Beckenbauer slams World Cup ticket prices

BERLIN: Germany football legend Franz Beckenbauer has slammed the cost of World Cup ticket prices and said fans here are put off by the travel costs to South Africa as well as security risks in the republic.

Beckenbauer, who captained Germany to World Cup success in 1974 and coached the winning side in 1990, says few German fans can afford the expensive tickets and are put off by South Africa's reputation for crime.

Only 6,700 of the 21,000 tickets allocated for German fans have been bought by supporters eager to see their heroes play against Ghana, Serbia and Australia in the group stages.