The Argentine government will send ten Federal Police officers to Dusseldorf, Germany, on Sunday, to watch "barra brava" (fight club) members expected to go to Germany from across Argentina, local media said Monday.

The officers will work with Germany security forces to help prevent outbreaks of violence in the cities where Argentina plays, Enrique Capdevilas, the head of the group told Argentine daily Clarin. Among other duties they will visit the stadiums where Argentina will play some days before each game, and will watch where the fight club members go.

He said that there will be a record number of Argentine hooligans in Germany, estimating between 150 and 200 violent fans would visit, and that most of these would be fans of local teams Boca Juniors or River Plate.

While the government will try to halt fans who have been charged or convicted of violent offenses, that have not had official judicial permission, from leaving the country, many potential thugs will travel to Germany because there is no official rule prohibiting them from doing so.

One of the most feared games is the Holland-Argentina match due June 21 in Frankfurt, but the police will also try to make sure the Argentines are kept well away from the England team's fans. The two nations' soccer supporters have maintained a great rivals ever since 1982 when the two countries went to war over the Falkland Islands, a British territory close to the south coast of Argentina.

The last big fight between English and Argentine soccer fans was on June 22, 1986 following a 2-1 victory by Argentina over England, which included the controversial "hand of God" goal. Some 30 people were seriously hurt in that fighting.

The police will also try to prevent River Plate and Boca fans from fighting amongst themselves.

The newspaper said that the two clubs had sent police lists of the fans they knew to be travelling to Germany, as a good will gesture.

Source: Xinhua