Published>Sat, Jun 19 10 07:37 PM
FIFA said it was "totally unacceptable" that an angry fan was able to breach security and burst into England's dressing room after their goalless draw with Algeria.
The English Football Association made an official complaint to the world governing body after a supporter was allowed to get so close to star players such as Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard at the end of the match in Cape Town.
"It is totally unacceptable for FIFA that a fan can find his way to the dressing room of any team in any FIFA competition," FIFA spokesman Nicolas Maingot told journalists at the briefing.
"This has been discussed this morning at the daily security meeting of the local organisers, police and FIFA. Security will be tight to ensure it will never happen again," he added.
The lone fan was quickly ejected from the dressing room after yesterday's match at the Green Point Stadium and no-one was injured.
But the incident was all the more sensitive given that Britain's Princes William and Harry are said to have visited the players in the dressing room earlier in the evening.
Jermaine Craig, a spokesman for the local organisers, told journalists: "The security level was the same as at all FIFA events."
He said police were still investigating what happened and confirmed the fan was out of the dressing room at the Green Point stadium within seconds of entering, but he was not arrested and he was allowed to leave the stadium.
England were booed off the field by many of their thousands of supporters in the stadium following the woeful draw which left them needing to beat Slovenia next week to be sure of staying in the competition.
There was further controversy for England when star striker Rooney, who endured another disappointing performance, appeared unhappy with the reaction of England fans.
As he headed for the tunnel, a television camera showed him saying: "It's nice to see your own fans booing you."
Around 25,000 England supporters were in Cape Town for the match, many drinking heavily in bars before and after the game.
The FA will want to ensure security is watertight when England head to Port Elizabeth for Wednesday's do-or-die encounter with Slovenia.
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