England ‘close to isolation’

Press, 5 December 1989, Page 42

England ‘close to isolation’

NZPA-Reuter Rome England’s bid to isolate its hooligan fans on the island of Sardinia for next year’s World Cup soccer finals seemed nearer to succeeding after talks here between the British Government and tournament organisers. “There has been major progress,” the British Minister of Sports, Colin Moynihan, said yesterday. “I think we are closer now to being based on an island where the problem can be contained such as Sardinia,” he said. He was speaking after a final appeal to the International Football Federation (F.1.F.A.) and the local organising committee, Italia 90, to base England on Sardinia for the opening round to help contain trouble with violent supporters. England will play all three of its first-round matches on Sardinia if it is selected by F.I.F.A. as one of the six seeds for the finals. However, it was still not clear after yesterday’s meeting if England would be based on Sardinia in the event of it not being seeded. An announcement will be

made on Thursday. The F.I.F.A. secretary-gen-eral Sepp Blatter, and the Italia 90 chief, Luca di Montezemolo, said after meeting Mr Moynihan that no decision had been made but they gave the strongest indication yet that British wishes would be met. "I think that the (sense of) responsibility of the organising committee will make such a decision possible but let them decide,” Mr Blatter said. Argentina as the holder, Italy as the host and Brazil and West Germany are certain to be seeded. England, Spain and Belgium lead the battle for the remaining two places as heads of the six groups for next June’s finals. “Security is our primary objective,” Mr Montezemolo said. “We want to put the teams in the best conditions to play and work in our country. This is why we think Sardinia is the best place for England. “It’s the right place for the nice English fans and could also be a good solution for the not-so-nice English fans.” Mr Moynihan, who will

meet the Italian Minister of Sports, Franco Carraro, today, said Britain would do everything to minimise violence from England fans in Italy and was “at one” with F.I.F.A. and Italia 90 that security must be placed first. • A sixteenth minute goal by Perry Groves gave Arsenal a share of the lead in English soccer’s first division after a 1-0 home win over Manchester United yesterday.

A high ball into the United penalty area glanced off a defender, Gary Pallister’s head to the unmarked Groves who drove a left foot shot across the diving Jim Leighton into the far corner. It was the striker’s first goal for six weeks. Arsenal reached 30 points with Liverpool and Aston Villa, both winners on Saturday, although the champions stand second to Liverpool on goal difference. The three are three points ahead of Chelsea. The London side was always superior to a disappointing Manchester United, whose captain Bryan Robson had an uncharacteristically poor game.