DATE=6/18/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-234156
TITLE=USA-IRAN SECURITY (S-O)
BYLINE=PARKE BREWER
DATELINE=LYON, FRANCE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  SECURITY IS TIGHTER THAN NORMAL IN AND AROUND LYON, 
FRANCE, WHERE THE U-S AND IRANIAN SOCCER TEAMS ARE SCHEDULED TO 
MEET SUNDAY IN A FIRST ROUND WORLD CUP MATCH.  V-O-A SPORTS 
EDITOR IS IN LYON AND HASMORE.  

TEXT:  POLICE WERE CAREFULLY LOOKING OVER THE PASSENGERS AS THEY 
GOT OFF CARS IN ONE OF LYON'S MAIN SUBWAY STATIONS THURSDAY.  THE
PREVIOUS DAY, THERE HAD BEEN  NO  SUCH VISIBLE PRESENCE.

A MEMBER OF THE INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL FEDERATION'S SECURITY 
COMMITTEE (LEON WALKER) TOLD V-O-A SPORTS HE CAME INTO LYON ONE 
DAY AHEAD OF THE REGULAR FIFA SECURITY REPRESENTATIVE, JUST TO BE
SURE THINGS WERE IN ORDER.

SECURITY WAS ALSO AN ISSUE AS REPORTERS MET WITH THE U-S SOCCER 
TEAM THURSDAY AT ITS TRAINING CAMP, 50 KILOMETERS OUTSIDE LYON.  
COACH STEVE SAMPSON SAID HE WAS WELL AWARE OF THE INCREASED 
SECURITY.

                        // SAMPSON ACT //

         THERE ARE A LOT OF PLAIN CLOTHES OFFICERS IN AND AROUND 
         THE CHATEAU (HOTEL) HERE, AND I'M SURE THERE'S AN 
         ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF SECURITY PRESENCE IN LYON.

                          // END ACT //

BECAUSE OF THE POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS, SECURITY FOR THE UNITED 
STATES-IRAN MATCH ON SUNDAY IS EXPECTED TO BE DOUBLE THAT OF THE 
LASTWORLD CUP MATCH PLAYED HERE MONDAY BETWEEN ROMANIA 
AND COLOMBIA.  (SIGNED)

NEB/SPTS/PARKE/

18-Jun-98 1:50 PM EDT (1750 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.