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Sydney siege



Sydney siege: football teams and fans 'will be safe during Asian Cup'










Organisers reassure international visitors in wake of tragedy
Asian football chiefs requested beefed up security


















Flowers are left as a sign of respect at Martin Place in Sydney. Photograph: Joosep Martinson/Getty Images



Australian Associated Press


Tuesday 16 December 2014 20.11 EST







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Football fans heading to Australia for January’s Asian Cup will be kept safe in the wake of Sydney’s deadly cafe siege.
Asian football chiefs expressed concerns over safety at the event after this week’s Martin Place hostage stand-off, which left three, including the Iranian-born Islamist gunman, dead.
In a statement, Asian Football Confederation general-secretary Alex Soosay said the body had requested beefed up security in team and AFC hotels as well as police escorts for all official activities, including training and matches.
“Australia has successfully hosted many prestigious events in the past but the recent developments cannot be taken lightly,” Soosay said.
But on Wednesday, Asian Cup chief executive Michael Brown moved to allay concerns about the safety of players and international officials during the 23-day tournament.
“The AFC have just raised a number of concerns (such as) what are we doing to keep people safe,” Brown told reporters in Sydney.
“We’re comfortable we’ll be able to resolve those. Obviously, safety and security is always foremost in our minds.”
Asian Cup organisers would follow government agencies’ lead on security measures, dovetailing with their own plans for improved safety, he said.
He said he hoped international fans wouldn’t be deterred from coming to Australia for the 32-game event.
The AFC’s concerns preface the arrival of first lot of the competitions’ 16 teams on Monday.
The Asian Cup is the region’s international-side championship and will be staged in Sydney, Newcastle, Brisbane, Canberra and Melbourne from January 9 to 31.



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