The Croatian fan who invaded Berlin’s Olympiastadion pitch in the 86th minute of his country’s match against Brazil was very much risking life and limb. The young man, who was under the influence of alcohol, came out of the stands and leapt over a 1.80m wide, 2.70m deep ditch to get onto the pitch. As the Organising Committee’s press relations officer Gerd Graus later explained, he will now be banned from going into any of the stadiums for the rest of the 2006 FIFA World Cup™. As well as having to watch the remainder of his team’s games on TV, he is also likely to be hit with a hefty fine.
Security also did its job regarding fireworks. 823 rockets, smoke bombs and other fireworks were confiscated at the stadium entrances in Berlin, though two smoke bombs did manage to make it through the checks and were set off in the stands. Video cameras will, however, help to bring the perpetrators to justice.
God damn, i'm a proud man!
