Pitch invaders risk tough penalties from courts

BERLIN, June 15 (Reuters) German courts will punish any fans who run on the pitch during World Cup matches with fines, the tournament's organisers said today.

Wolfgang Niersbach, vice-president of the German organising committee, told reporters that a 19-year-old Tunisian fan who ran on the pitch at half-time during his team's match with Saudi Arabia yesterday had already been fined for his actions and banned from any future matches.

''His monthly salary was 120 euros and the court fined him 140 euros,'' said Niersbach who explained that the penalties issued by the courts would reflect an individual's monthly earnings.

''Do not think you will just be fined 140 euros if you run on the pitch,'' added Niersbach. ''You will be fined more than what you earn in a month.'' It was the second incident of its kind at the finals after a 20-year-old Croatian ran on to the field during his team's match against Brazil on Tuesday and the authorities are treating the cases very seriously.

''Some people might think they are amusing little incidents, but they are not. If anyone came on the pitch holding a weapon, we'd know the fun was over.

''There is no gentleman's agreement from FIFA or the LOC to treat these cases lightly.

'NO DIFFERENCE' ''The Tunisian, who lives in Munich, had a novel excuse for coming on at halftime saying he did not want to disrupt the match.

But that makes no difference.

''We do not want to see barriers and fences back in the stadiums but the fans must discipline themselves. Anyone who comes on to the pitch can expect to be severely dealt with.'' The Croatian fan surprised security forces during Tuesday's game against the world champions by leaping over the two-metre wide moat that surrounds the field at the Olympiastadion and running on the pitch.

He was led off after bowing down in front of Croatian striker Dado Prso before being led off without further incident and handed over to police.

More than 100 stewards were in the stadium to prevent fans getting on the pitch and the organisers are looking at ways to increase security further.

At the Confederations Cup in Germany last year, four streakers evaded stadium security and ran on the pitch.

Nine of the 12 World Cup venues have barriers to deter streakers and other fans getting on the field.

REUTERS AY PM1752