"There are small and medium-sized towns in Brandenburg and other places where I would recommend that nobody with a different skin colour go," former government spokesman Uwe-Karsten Heye, told radio station Deutschlandradio Kultur.

"They would possibly not leave there alive."

FEEL SAFE

Germany's interior minister dismissed the warning.

"I think during the world championship everyone can feel safe, wherever he will be in Germany. We are prepared," Wolfgang Schaeuble said. "No one who would try to make attacks on foreigners, people of colour, will succeed."

In the United States, black team members preparing for the finals at a training camp said they had become used to racial abuse when playing for European clubs but hoped the World Cup would be different.

"Unfortunately, it (racism) happens," said defender Oguchi Onyewu, who has experienced abuse by rival fans while playing for Standard Liege in Belgium.

"With the World Cup, I'm not anticipating it, but there's so much of it in league play. Hopefully this (World Cup) will be a different atmosphere. I appreciate the measures FIFA's taking, all that is good externally, but it's not going to do much internally -- you can't change the mindset of people."

Manchester United goalkeeper Tim Howard said the sport's governors needed to have a zero tolerance policy on racism.

"They are doing a decent job but they've got to hit teams and countries where it hurts the most -- no fans at games and monetary fines. We can only speak out against it as players."

Midfielder Landon Donovan added: "(Racism) is just wrong. Players shouldn't be going to the World Cup worried about that, it should be a month to celebrate.
"You want to stop racism, FIFA should deduct points or take a team right out of the tournament, see if they ever do that again."