FIFA general secretary Michel Zen-Ruffinen insisted that next year's World Cup finals will be the safest ever staged, with both the South Korean and Japanese governments promising the highest level of security possible.

"We have had a very good response from both governments and their security agencies regarding all security matters," Zen-Ruffinen said yesterday.

"In one sense it is the responsibility of the governments to ensure the safety and security of the supporters, players and stadiums, rather than FIFA's responsibility.

"But the fact is, the response from the governments has been so positive that we can already say the World Cup will be the safest one yet staged."

FIFA vice-president David Will, a member of the security committee, which met yesterday ahead of today's executive committee meeting, endorsed Zen-Ruffinen's comments, adding: "After the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11th, the focus of World Cup security changed from hooliganism to the matter of absolute paramount safety for the stadiums, the fans and the players.

"FIFA have been closely involved with the local organising committees in both countries and in turn with the governments to ensure the absolute safety of the tournament.

"I do not believe that there will be a big hooliganism problem at the finals. You cannot imagine people travelling half way around the world just for a fight in Korea or Japan. They will travel here to watch football matches.

"I am very, very confident that both the Korean and Japanese authorities will take all the appropriate action they need to to guarantee the safety of the tournament, that is of paramount importance."

The security budget has been increased following September and security was very visible in Pusan yesterday.

Plain-clothes policemen and women have been stationed on every hotel floor, while more than 1,000 police and security guards will be on duty tomorrow when 3,500 invited guests and media are expected to see the draw live.

Whatever about hooligans arriving from England, their team's captain, David Beckham, will be given extra protection for the World Cup.

Paul Newman, the FA spokesman, yesterday described Beckham as "probably the most famous footballer in the world" and, with the Premiership shown on television in Japan and South Korea, the Manchester United player is certain to be the focus of persistent mass attention.

"We don't want to shut the players away," said Newman. "One of the biggest elements in a tournament is players getting bored. And we certainly don't want that to happen to our best players.

"Michael Owen is in the same category. In fact it's difficult to think of another national side with two players that attractive to fans."

The FA expects around 4,000 supporters to make the trip and has been reassured by the noises from the Korean and Japanese authorities about how severely any rioting or fighting fans will be dealt with.

"In terms of misbehaving fans this tournament will probably be the hardest for fans to cause trouble at," Newman said.

"The police have been going through training procedures to deal with hooligans.

"I have seen various pictures of exercises against England fans and it's classic stereotyping. But the expense of coming here is bound to make it more difficult and it doesn't make sense to cause trouble in countries like Korea and Japan because you're going to be stuck in prison.

"And it won't be like Marseille (in 1998) when people were sprung in days."

The Republic of Ireland will be playing with golden balls at next summer's finals. Adidas yesterday launched the "champagne gold" Fevernova, the official ball for the 2002 World Cup finals.