Fences will remain in place at stadiums that will host two England and Scotland World Cup matches this summer, contrary to the wishes of football's governing body FIFA, after officials at Lens and St Etienne refused to take down their three metre-high barriers before the tournament begins.
And Colin Moneypenny, secretary of the Liverpool branch of the Football Supporters' Association, fears a repeat of the 1989 disaster when 96 Liverpool fans were crushed to death at the Hillsborough stadium in Sheffield. A gate at the ground was opened to allow supporters into an already crowded terrace before the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.
Moneypenny, who has visited both grounds, said: Unfortunately they are typically English grounds from the 70s and 80s. They haven't learned the lessons English football learned from Hillsborough. And Moneypenny said St Etienne, which will host Scotland v Morocco on June 23, was his greatest concern. There are all sorts of things here that alarm me. I'm worried by the authorities' complacent attitude to safety here. The justification always seems to be security. It all reminds me of Hillsborough. I wouldn't recommend anyone to come to a game here.
St Etienne and Lens both have large safety gates, something missing at Hillsborough, although these gates are centrally controlled. That means that someone on the spot, here by the fences, cannot use their initiative in the event of an emergency, Moneypenny said. That was exactly the same at Hillsborough, where delays cost lives.

BARRAS BRAVA BARRED River Plate are currently missing the vocal backing of their notorious hardcore fans, the Barras Brava, who are boycotting games over the Argentine club's refusal to cough up n all-expenses paid trip for them to go to the World Cup this summer. For the past two finals, in Italy and the USA, the River Plate regime had generously sent at least 100 of their loyal supporters to watch Argentina in action. Not this year, though, as the frugal River Plate board have decided to bin the costly exercise. But the Barras mob are far from impressed and have since declined to attend any League matches in protest.

ARSENAL TRIO IN FRENCH SQUAD Arsenal trio Patrick Vieira, Emmanuel Petit and Nicolas Anelka have been named in France's preliminary tournament squad just two days after helping the Gunners to the Premiership title. National manager Aime Jacquet has included the players in a 28-man squad that he will take to the French Alps in the middle of this month for post-season recuperation. But Jacquet has agreed to allow certain players to join up late because of club commitments. The Arsenal trio will be involved in the FA Cup final on May 16. Jacquet must reduce the squad to 22 by June 2 but Anelka's surprise inclusion he only made his international debut last month in Sweden - completes a memorable week for the Gunners' teenage forward after Sunday's title success. West Ham goalkeeper Bernard Lama, who also played in the goalless draw against Sweden, and Chelsea defender Frank Leboeuf have also been chosen and look set to make the final 22. But there was no recall for Tottenham winger David Ginola.

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