Sven's men join the jet set

David Bond, Deputy Political Editor @djbond6873|South Korea

13 April 2012

Specially chartered aeroplanes will be provided for England and the other teams in the World Cup finals to reduce the risk of terrorist attacks.

The expensive move will be paid for by football's world governing body, FIFA, as one of a series of security measures.

The Football Association was today finalising its schedule and security arrangements and the news of the special FIFA jets will take some pressure off the FA's £2 million budget for the tournament.

England will be based in Japan for as long as they stay in the tournament, making travelling easier, but more expensive. Although Sven-Goran Eriksson's team are expected to spend a week acclimatising on South Korea's paradise island of Jeju, they will go to Japan's Awaji Island in the week before the finals kick off, and remain based there until they fly home.

Japan is about five times more expensive than Korea so FIFA's decision to foot the bill for flights was welcomed by FA chief executive Adam Crozier today.

He said: " FIFA has announced that it will lay on, which it wasn't going to do before, charter flights for all of the teams.

"Teams will be flown to the location the day before a match, play the game, and then be flown back the next day. Security is a key priority for the whole time we are there."

A friendly against Paraguay in England on 17 April is close to being finalised and to help gain some pointers for their group match with Nigeria there is the possibility of a match against African opposition, perhaps Cameroon, after they arrive in the Far East in mid May.

FA officials will fly to Awaji Island this week to check arrangements for the team. They will visit each of the three venues - Sapporo, the indoor stadium where England's showdown with Argentina will take place, Saitama and Osaka - to make sure security plans for the matches are also up to scratch.

Food, drink and medication for players and coaches will be tested for anthrax and other poisons. The head of FIFA's security committee, Antonio Matarrese, said: "As well as making sure the food is okay, there is a possibility we will have no-fly zones over training grounds and stadiums."

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Sven's men join the jet set

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