10 Argentine hooligans detained at Johannesburg airport, set to be deported before World Cup

Argentine hooligans detained at SAfrican airport

JOHANNESBURG — Ten Argentine soccer hooligans supposedly planning acts of violence at the World Cup have been detained at South Africa’s main airport and are to be deported.

A South African police statement issued Monday says the men, all Argentine citizens and known hooligans, were detained Sunday after arriving at Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo airport on a flight from Angola.

“Intelligence indicated that these persons would commit acts of public disorder, engage in acts of violence and provoke conflict with certain fans of opponent teams and other groups from Argentina during the 2010 FIFA World Cup,” the statement said.

Police said one of the 10 men is out on bail for murder.

They were intercepted after traveling from Argentina via the Angolan capital Luanda. They were to be deported later Monday after being held in custody overnight at the airport.