Germany received praised for its World Cup security as it warned of new threats on Friday.
East European hooligans, and potential violence at hundreds of jumbo screens set up across the country to show matches are worries, German authorities said.
"As new developments they present new dangers," said August Hanning, state secretary of the Interior Ministry responsible for security.
PHOTO: EPA
Polish, Croatian and Ukrainian fans -- contributing to growing violence in their home leagues -- are feared because the Germans don't know which ones are hooligans, whereas England and the Netherlands have exchanged thick dossiers on troublemakers through the years.
"The fear there is the unknown," ministry spokesman Christian Sachs said.
German newspapers have criticized mishaps in evacuation and disaster response exercises for the World Cup, but Hanning said the point of training was to expose possible mistakes.
Nevertheless, German strategy to combat fan violence and terrorism drew high marks at a two-day security conference of experts from the 32 countries playing in soccer's showcase event from June 9-July 9.
"I had the impression they were very well prepared and have covered every threat imaginable," said Min Jang of the terrorism office of South Korea, which staged the 2002 World Cup with Japan.
The number of German policemen involved is unknown because the nine states with World Cup stadiums coordinate their own security. Around 2,000 soldiers will provide support, but are forbidden from taking on police roles under the country's constitution.
Concerned about the jumbo screen venues, the Interior Ministry wants each state to set up video surveillance, check backpacks, and fence the areas like a sports arena.
Germany will reinstate border controls for spot checks after they were dismantled inside the EU due to the Schengen agreement.
About 400 police and security officers from other World Cup nations will be sent to help German officers patrol stadiums, airports and train stations. England will send 45 in uniform abroad for the first time.
Europe and Latin America dominated the list of 23 referees chosen by FIFA on Friday for the World Cup in Germany.
Germany's Markus Merk, Slovakia's Lubos Michel and England's Graham Poll were among 10 from Europe, joining seven referees from Latin America.
FIFA evaluated the performance of 44 referees for the 32-nation tournament, with president Sepp Blatter calling the officials the "33rd team" for the June 9-July 9 showpiece.
"The 23 referees who will be in action in Germany are currently the best match officials in the world," Blatter said. "That is the way it has to be as they will have a crucial role to play in this tournament and great demands will be placed on them."
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