CCTV.COM 2002-05-29 13:05:34
World Cup co－host, Japan, is getting nervous about drunken fans causing trouble. This isn't the country's only headache. Multimillion－dollar counterfeit merchandise scams are also giving Japanese Customs officials a hangover they'd rather forget.
At the 1998 World Cup in France, more than 500,000 counterfeit items worth millions of dollars were seized by customs. So far, Japanese officials have confiscated over 18,000 items － they acknowledge that this is just the tip of the iceberg.
Most of the fake goods have come in from Thailand and the Philippines and are costing sporting manufacturers such as Nike and Adidas, millions of dollars in lost revenue. A world cup shirt made by Adidas costs around 100 US dollars. That price makes the counterfeit ones, selling for around 30 US dollars apiece, highly attractive.
More officers are being stationed at airports and huge X－ray inspection machines installed. But, the counterfeit items are still getting through and there is certainly a market for it.
The issue of potential hooliganism has been the hot topic at conferences all over the Japan. There are growing fears in the World Cup co－host that alcohol－fueled fans will run amok and spoil football's biggest party.
Toshimichi Tsuchiya from the Urawa Liquor Shop Association said, "Our association believes that it is our social responsibility to do all we can to make the World Cup a successful one and that means not allowing the hooligan element access to too much alcohol."
Although local shop owners have agreed a voluntary code of conduct rather than a blanket ban, alcohol is expected to be difficult to come by when there is a game on.
Editor:Hope CCTV.com
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