Soccer-World-Police clash with workers in first unrest

The clash between police and stadium stewards protesting over pay came after the first match in the beautiful oceanside stadium when Germany put themselves among the favourites for the tournament with a devastating 4-0 rout of Australia. Defending champions Italy play for the first time on Monday, hounded by a wave of negative reporting that says they are too old and lack pace and imagination.

They meet an in-form Paraguay in Cape Town in the evening and few give the ageing side a chance of retaining their title. In Durban, riot police wearing armour and helmets chased stewards who had earlier been responsible for the security of 62,660 fans at the new futuristic Moses Mabhida stadium.

One woman hit by a rubber bullet lay outside the stadium for nearly an hour before an ambulance took her away.

Police blasted teargas as the disgruntled staff, bricks and rocks in hand, rampaged down a Durban highway. Scores of police coralled the protesters before they reached the city centre. After a tense standoff, the workers dispersed.

Organising committee spokesman Rich Mkhondo said in Johannesburg that authorities were talking with the stewards and their employers to resolve the wage dispute as soon as possible.

Although the violence was an embarrassment for organisers, who have spent billions of dollars and gone to great lengths to avoid trouble at the tournament, it was quickly controlled and seemed unlikely to take the shine off the happy buzz around Africa's first World Cup.