Frankfurt - German football authorities on Thursday denied reports its squad for the World Cup next year in South Africa was being advised to wear bullet-proof vests amid security concerns.
The reports, based on remarks from the head of a private security firm, caused a stir in South Africa Thursday, but German football federation DFB media director Harald Stenger said there was no basis to the reports.
"We are aware of the reaction in South Africa, and immediately made it clear after these false reports were published that we are not considering equipping the players with bullet-proof vests," he said.
The DFB's security head Helmut Spahn is travelling to South Africa with a small delegation over the weekend to get a detailed impression of the squad's base near Pretoria.
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Stenger said that on matters of security the DFB would not be taking any independent action. All security measures would be taken in conjunction with world governing body FIFA and the South African government, he said.
"No security concept has been agreed for our team," he added.
The comments follow reports that German players would be warned to expect to wear bullet-proof vests if they ventured beyond their hotel during the tournament.
Germany's Sport Bild weekly had quoted Guenter Schnelle from security firm BaySecur as saying that German players' movements outside the hotel boundaries "should be kept to a minimum" amid concerns over South Africa's high crime rate.
"Otherwise there must be a full escort: armed security guards and bullet-proof vests for the players," he said.
BaySecur is one of the firms hoping to be deployed by the DFB for the national squad at the June 11-July 11 World Cup. - Sapa-dpa
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