The spectre of hooliganism and crowd trouble stalked the World Cup countdown Monday as a group of hardcore Argentine fans were deported and organisers distanced themselves from a stadium stampede. The arrests of the 10 fans at Johannesburg's international airport came after a tip-off that the so-called 'ultras' would try to wreak havoc during the tournament in South Africa and as police vowed to bolster security. "Intelligence indicated that these persons would commit acts of public disorder, engage in acts of violence and provoke conflict with certain fans of opponent teams and other groups from Argentina," a police statement said. Authorities in Buenos Aires handed their South African counterparts a list of 800 known football hooligans last week. The group were detained on Sunday after arriving on a flight from Luanda, and were deported Monday on a flight back to the Angolan capital, police said. The presence of large numbers of hooligans would further fuel fears of safety at a tournament which is happening in a place with one of the world's highest crime rates, where beleaguered police struggle to keep order. FIFA president Sepp Blatter, who has had to deflect claims that South Africa is unable to host a tournament of such magnitude ever since it won the staging rights, insisted the tournament would be "fantastic". However, the Swiss admitted that not everything would run like clockwork. "Be conscious of the fact that we are in Africa, even if South Africa is the best organised country on the continent. You can be critical -- that is your right -- but admit that you really feel something here," he told a press conference. Speaking later, Blatter said the tournament would be the best ever World Cup. "After the 12th of June everyone will have an interest in Africa, because this is going to be the best World Cup ever," he told a ceremony where he was bestowed with South Africa's highest national order for foreigners. A stadium stampede on Sunday, which left 16 people injured, underlined the challenges facing the authorities. While FIFA insisted the trouble at a township stadium in Tembisa near Johannesburg was not their responsibility, headlines made uncomfortable reading. "Soccer Stampede Mayhem", read the headline in The Star which quoted one of those injured as having feared for her life. Officials said one police officer was seriously injured and 15 people sustained minor injuries as a mass of supporters without tickets tried to force their way into the ground. "This friendly match has no relation whatsoever with the operational organisation of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, for which we remain fully confident," FIFA said in a statement. "Contrary to some media reports, FIFA had nothing to do with the ticketing of this game." The stadium is not a World Cup venue and police said such problems would not arise during the tournament. "At these stadiums that are not World Cup stadiums, there are no turnstiles. The access control is a little bit different," police spokeswoman Sally de Beer told South African television. Police have drawn up a major security programme to cover matches which will include a closure of roads within a half-mile (800 meter) radius and a major deployment of officers. "We will beef up security and look at the stadiums," de Beer added. The episode evoked ugly memories of a tragedy in 2001 when 43 people were killed as ticketless fans tried to barge their way into Ellis Park, a Johannesburg stadium which is one of the 10 venues. South African fans have traditionally arrived late for matches, with kick-offs often held back to accommodate everyone. But with World Cup delays ruled out, FIFA has been urging fans to get there on time. The episode also triggered alarm in other countries whose teams are in South Africa, with The Times of London saying it was "an accident waiting to happen" as the lure of free tickets was always going to lead to problems. u00a0

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The spectre of hooliganism and crowd trouble stalked the World Cup countdown Monday as a group of hardcore Argentine fans were deported and organisers distanced themselves from a stadium stampede.

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