David Beckham will be guarded 24/7 by South African police with “shoot to kill” orders during his Cape Town trip this week for the 2010 World Cup draw.
At least four armed officers will be with Beckham round the clock when he flies to Cape Town, The Daily Star reports.
It will be the first major test for the controversial “shoot to kill” policy of the country’s top policeman Bheki Cele, who has vowed to protect the world’s football stars?" when they arrive for next year’s World Cup.
And his men will get their first tour of duty as heavily-armed human shields when Becks flies in to witness Friday’s draw and to promote England’s bid to host the 2018 competition.
“He’s always tried to appear low-key about security issues in public. But this is going to be different. He knows he’s going to a dangerous place and accepts he needs the kind of security usually afforded to a visiting head of state,” an aide to Beckham said.
Manager Fabio Capello, FA chairman Lord Triesman and his party of delegates will also be shadowed by police with semi-automatic rifles and hand guns.
