• World Cup

Furious fan breaches England dressing room

ESPNsoccernet staff
June 19, 2010
Prince Harry and Prince William had not long left the dressing room © Getty Images
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The Football Association has formally complained to FIFA after an angry fan barged his way into the England dressing room in Cape Town on Friday night not long after Prince William and Prince Harry had left.

England were booed off following their 0-0 draw with Algeria at the Green Point Stadium that leaves their World Cup hopes hanging by a thread.

And one supporter was so angry he evaded security to make his feelings known to a startled dressing room, where players were getting changed and a number of backroom staff were present - including former skipper David Beckham, who has been a constant presence since England's arrival in South Africa.

The intruder was eventually hustled away by England's own security staff at the end of an awful evening. Prince William is president of the FA and decided to watch the game with his brother after arriving in the country following a visit to an orphanage in Lesotho. On Saturday, the princes will host a reception in Johannesburg for FIFA officials to support England's bid to host the 2018 World Cup. And the FA are in no doubt where the responsibility lay.

"A fan got in past FIFA security,'' said an FA spokesman. "We have formally complained to FIFA after the game and will follow it up in writing. This is not acceptable and thankfully no serious harm was done.''

South African police are searching for the fan who was let free before he could be arrested. Provincial police spokesman Colonel Billy Jones said the man, who was wearing a red T-shirt, was now wanted for trespassing. He said police were investigating why he was not handed over to officers, in which case he would have been arrested.

Col Jones said: "Somebody who is believed to be an England supporter managed to get into the changing room of the England team. There is no report he engaged with any of the team members. He was removed from the dressing room by one of the FIFA officials.

"At this stage we are consulting with all the security agents that were present and will be looking at all the available surveillance footage to establish how this person got in. He has not been arrested.''

Asked why the FIFA official did not apprehend the man and hand him over to police, Colonel Jones said: "That will form part of our investigation - why police were not informed at the time. We have opened a case of trespassing against him after the FIFA security was breached.''

He said police would now be looking at how to improve security at the stadium, adding: "We will assess the situation and apply our minds to the way forward. The indication is that the person was wearing a red T-shirt and was therefore an England spectator.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) said in a statement: "At approximately 11.15pm an unauthorised individual entered the changing room of the English soccer team at the Cape Town Stadium after the match; he was escorted from the premises by a member of Fifa.

"An inquiry into the circumstances of the incident is now being investigated by SAPS. CCTV footage is being examined as part of the investigation, and all security personnel will be questioned to shed light on the matter.''

With in excess of 25,000 supporters travelling to witness the team's dismal performances so far, the FA will want to ensure security is watertight when England head to Port Elizabeth for Wednesday's do-or-die encounter with Slovenia.

If England win, they will book a place in the last 16. Anything less and the Three Lions will almost certainly be booking an early flight home, which is bound to lead to more frustration and calls for manager Fabio Capello to resign.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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