FIFA security chief gives WC stadia vote of confidence

After allegations by a consumer watchdog group that several stadia were unsafe, FIFA director of stadium security Walter Gagg has given the facilities at this summer’s World Cup in Germany a vote of confidence, dismissing claims of unsafe conditions and claiming the tournament was prepared for the threat of terrorist attacks. Gagg said he was “more than satisfied” with the 12 stadia that will play host to 32 nations during the month-long tournament.

“We are happy, we have good stadiums here in Germany, they have full security infrastructure,” he said. As far as a possible terrorist attack, Gagg said the World Cup has never been the victim of a terrorist attack before and doesn’t expect one now.

Willy Koesling, a German security official responsible for World Cup preparations, said: “Thank God, we have no concrete indications of a particular concrete threat in the area of terrorism, but we can't rule it out. We hope it stays that way.”

The statements came during a meeting of security officials of all 16 federal states to update its planning for the tournament, which kicks off June 9.