German daily Der Tagesspiegel reported on Thursday that German far-rightists and neo-Nazis planned five demonstrations during the World Cup to express solidarity with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who caused international outrage last year by denying the Holocaust and calling for Israel to be wiped from the map.

Schaeuble said it would be surprising if right-wingers were not looking for ways to exploit the World Cup, but the authorities would not allow this to happen.

"We will combat far-right trends with all available means before, during and after the World Cup," he told reporters.