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Jamaica fears for safety of fans in El Salvador
KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) -- Fearing violence in the country that once went to war over a soccer match, Jamaica is sending officials to El Salvador to create a "zone of comfort" for fans at the Nov. 9 World Cup qualifying match.Jamaica's embassy in Mexico has been instructed to help ensure the safety of Jamaicans travelling to San Salvador for the game, the Weekend Observer newspaper reported Friday.
Jamaican fears were publicized by legislator Arthur Nelson, who wrote to the Foreign Ministry that some supporters of the Jamaican national team were "concerned about their safety and welfare" in El Salvador.
The Observer quoted Ben Clare, minister of state for foreign affairs, as saying that his ministry was trying to establish a "zone of comfort" for Jamaican supporters in El Salvador.
Clare said Jamaican protocol and sports officials were flying to San Salvador to "discuss all problems we have foreseen so that the security and other aspects can be guaranteed."
Salvadorans are passionate about soccer. World Cup politics there reached an incendiary level in 1969, when a playoff game against neighboring Honduras sparked fighting that lasted two weeks and resulted in the deaths of 2,000 people.
Jamaica, with 12 points, needs at least a tie to stay on the road to France for the 1998 World Cup. That would put El Salvador, with nine points, out of the race.
When the two teams played at Kingston in May, Jamaica won 1-0.
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