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WEGGIS, Switzerland -- Some Brazilian soccer fans are
unhappy because they can't get to see the players at training camp. Only those with a ticket to the training sessions have been able
to see the squad, which has been isolated in its hotel since
arriving in Weggis eight days ago for two weeks of preparation. "We are trying everything we can to see them, to get an
autograph, but they don't even care," said 39-year-old Marilene
Correa, shortly after the tinted-window bus carrying the Brazilians
to practice passed by her. "They need to start thinking about the
fans who came here only because of them." The players are escorted to training sessions by police cars,
giving fans no chance to get near. Their hotel, which has been
closed to guests, is fenced off. About 40 security guards keep fans
away, and access to nearby streets has been restricted. "We are very disappointed," 12-year-old Karen Ferreira said.
"The players should've been given more attention to us." The only fans to get near the team were those who ran onto the
field Friday. One of them, a Brazilian woman, managed to hug
Ronaldinho. "It's normal to have fans trying to get close to us,"
Ronaldinho has said. "But it's hard, it's a lot of people." ------= BERLIN -- The German government says a lack of information
about the identity of VIP ticket holders will make for easier
black-market trading for some of the best World Cup seats. Organizers insist fans will be allowed into games only with a
ticket that bears their name and ID card or passport number. The
measure, recommended by the European Union, is designed to exclude
hooligans and curb scalping. But an official said Monday that the holders of some tickets
sold to companies or given to sponsors for VIP guests had yet to
supply the information -- and it might be too late to fix the
problem. "We are in talks with the other responsible parties in search
of possibilities to bring down as far as possible the proportion of
tickets that can't be personalized before the various games,"
Interior Ministry spokesman Stefan Kaller said. Kaller said less than 1 million of the 3 million tickets for the
June 9-July 9 tournament were potentially affected. Organizers are allowing fans to sell back tickets or change the
name printed on them for a fee. They plan spot checks at stadiums
to deter anyone from buying tickets from scalpers. The World Cup Organizing Committee said personalizing all
tickets remained "fundamental" to its security concept. ------= MANCHESTER, England -- England striker Wayne Rooney will
have the next scan on his broken right foot June 7, one week
earlier than planned. Rooney was scheduled to have the CT scan June 14, but England
coach Sven-Goran Eriksson requested it be moved forward so he will
have time to replace the injured Manchester United striker if he
can't play at the World Cup. England is allowed to replace an injured player up to 24 hours
before its first game, which is against Paraguay on June 10. The 20-year-old Rooney broke his right foot while playing for
United against Chelsea on April 29. Eriksson thinks Rooney will
play in the World Cup. "I'm always positive about it, optimistic," Eriksson said. ------= BERLIN -- Jamaican referee Peter Prendergast is out of the
World Cup after injuring his knee. Soccer's governing body said Monday that Prendergast and his two
assistants -- Anthony Garwood of Jamaica and Joseph Taylor of
Trinidad and Tobago -- will soon head home. The remaining 21 World
Cup referees and 42 assistants will take a final fitness test
Wednesday. U.S. coach Bruce Arena and Prendergast got into a screaming
match following a World Cup qualifier at Costa Rica in 2000. FIFA
suspended Arena for three games, although the penalty was later
reduced to two.
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