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Algiers, Johannesburg:
A FIFA executive says a terrorist threat has been made on the World Cup.
Secretary General Jerome Valcke commented Friday on an online magazine article that said "how beautiful" it would be if a bomb exploded at the US-England game June 12 in the South African city of Rustenburg.
Valcke says World Cup organizers are working at the "highest level of security."
The comments appeared to come from a contributor to a militant online magazine called "Yearners for Paradise," not the usual sites used by Al-Qaida and other groups to make threats. In the article, the author says he is not a spokesman for Al-Qaida.
FIFA has said that it was not phased by the recent terror threat to the 2010 edition this June.
Jerome Valcke said the governing body and South African authorities were ready for any eventuality and the tournament would be staged as planned.
"The first issue is Al-Qaida, or any threat we will receive from international terrorist groups. I mean, we know that it can happen. We have to be very clear that it's not a threat which will stop FIFA to organise the World Cup here in South Africa," said Jerome Valcke, FIFA Secretary General.
The FIFA World Cup kicks off June 11 in Johannesburg when host South Africa plays Mexico.
Secretary General Jerome Valcke commented Friday on an online magazine article that said "how beautiful" it would be if a bomb exploded at the US-England game June 12 in the South African city of Rustenburg.
Valcke says World Cup organizers are working at the "highest level of security."
The comments appeared to come from a contributor to a militant online magazine called "Yearners for Paradise," not the usual sites used by Al-Qaida and other groups to make threats. In the article, the author says he is not a spokesman for Al-Qaida.
FIFA has said that it was not phased by the recent terror threat to the 2010 edition this June.
Jerome Valcke said the governing body and South African authorities were ready for any eventuality and the tournament would be staged as planned.
"The first issue is Al-Qaida, or any threat we will receive from international terrorist groups. I mean, we know that it can happen. We have to be very clear that it's not a threat which will stop FIFA to organise the World Cup here in South Africa," said Jerome Valcke, FIFA Secretary General.
The FIFA World Cup kicks off June 11 in Johannesburg when host South Africa plays Mexico.
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