Security Officials Attempt to Prevent Violence

Fearful of a repeat of the violence that accompanied Germany’s first-round game at Lens, which resulted in the severe beating of a French gendarme by organized, neo-Nazi thugs, officials in Montpellier have instituted tight security measures for Germany’s round-of-16 game against Mexico today at Stade de la Mosson.

The prefect of Herault--the region in which Montpellier is located--ordered a ban on takeout sales of alcoholic beverages starting midnight Sunday until 8 a.m. Tuesday. Bars will close at 1 a.m. local time after the game.

Police units have already heightened their vigilance around the stadium and German authorities are being vigilant in an effort to keep known hooligans from attending today’s game.

Security will also be tight for Tuesday’s game between England and Argentina in St. Etienne. Police forces from both countries met to discuss strategies to avoid hooliganism.

The countries are traditional rivals. In addition, many English fans haven’t yet forgiven Argentina for Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” handball goal in the countries’ quarterfinal match in the 1986 World Cup. The two nations haven’t met in the World Cup since that game.

More than 1,300 police officers in uniform and plainclothes patrolled Lens last Friday, arresting 15 people and detaining nine.

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FIFA’s technical expert, Gerard Houllier, said more goals are being scored in the tournament thanks to FIFA’s rule change on tackles from behind.

He said a detailed analysis of first-round play showed more goals were being scored after corner kicks, midfielders are scoring almost as frequently as forwards and fewer goals are being scored from outside the penalty area compared with 1994.

Houllier cited the goal scored Saturday by Italian striker Christian Vieri as an example of the greater freedom resulting from the crackdown on tackling from behind.

“Before, Vieri would probably have been brought down before he could shoot,” Houllier said. “Now, defenders know they will get a red card if they tackle from behind, so they have to lay off. This is positive for the game.”

Goals scored from outside the area in the first round accounted for only 10.3% of total goals, down from 20.5% in 1994. Strikers scored 52.4% of the goals, down from 65.6% in 1994. Goals scored by midfielders rose from 25.8% to 37.3%.