South Africa detains 10 Argentine hooligans

Ten suspected football hooligans from Argentina have been arrested at South Africa’s main airport, after intelligence reports indicated they planned to disrupt the World Cup, police said on Monday.

They were detained on Sunday after arriving on a flight from the Angolan capital Luanda, and will be deported to Argentina later Monday, police said in a statement.

“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 during the 2010 FIFA World Cup,” the statement said.

“They are known to have a history of being involved in crime and antagonising local law enforcement agencies.”

Last week Argentina gave South Africa a list of 800 known football hooligans, with cabinet head Anibal Fernandez saying the government had “no interest in seeing these people travel to the finals.”

Argentine media reports had earlier suggested some fans with links to violence had been given financial aid via official channels to help them make the long journey from South America.

Ole sports daily reported a 235-strong group of hooligans was on its way to Pretoria.

Argentine domestic football has a history of violence with 241 football-related deaths officially registered since 1924, according to the non-governmental organisation Salvemos al Futbol (Let’s Save Football).