Police units in Japan and Korea are bracing for violence at the World Cup. Japan's police have little or no experience with unruly crowds, so they've been practicing ffor stadium riots over the last few weeks - including simulating a "crowd of fire-setting, motorcycle-driving fans". Um, how many fans are bringing their motorcycles with them on the plane? Still, seems like rather a lot of fun, except for the part where they practice using the water cannon and giant nets on you. Oh yeah, and the big whacking stick (see: Simpsons.)
For each game, the Japanese police will mobilize more than 7,000 riot police. (To be fair, there is also increased concern regarding terrorism.)
The Koreans are somewhat less worried, having gained experience dealing with violent student protests. Somehow, though, I don't think that a bunch of teenage/early-20s college students compares with a crowd of skinhead soccer hooligans for sheer destructive power.
