Plans to curb cup hooligans

The stadium is considered a neutral venue

Detailed planning for the policing of the FA and League Cups is underway following that announcement that both finals are to be held at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium for the next three years.

At least 60,000 fans from the clubs involved are certain to arrive in Cardiff for the finals and there is a whole range of issues to be resolved.

The man charged with policing Cardiff City Centre, Chief Superintendent Gerry Toms, said matters were already well in hand.

Officers have already visited Wembley to inspect arrangements and close liaison will now be carried out with other forces and the Football Intelligence Unit.

But Chief Superintendent Toms stressed the vast majority of people coming to the Cup finals would not be looking for trouble.

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"There were only 33 arrests at the last FA Cup Final which is about the same as a major rugby event," he said.

He added that most of the spectators would be expected to come to Cardiff by coach which would ease the arrangements for policing.

Special zones which will allow separate groups of spectators to be marshalled safely in the city centre are expected to be set up.

Chief Superintendent Toms said he was to hold talks with city licensees to discuss arrangements.

Plans to segregate parking for the convoys of coaches from the clubs who will visit Cardiff in February and May are already in place.

Neutral venue

There will be 500 police officers in the city during match days to deal if a small minority of fans misbehave.

Within the stadium itself segregation will probably be achieved simply by placing large blocks of neutral fans between the partisan fans - and not by using fencing.

The FA had considered alternative venues such as Twickenham and Murrayfield as well as football club grounds across the country, including Old Trafford and Villa Park.

But it was felt the Millennium Stadium was easily accessible as well as providing a neutral venue for whichever teams reached the finals.

There is no question of the roof being shut during the games although it could be used to protect the pitch beforehand.