UK sending three police officers to World Cup for 'cultural' help

LONDON, May 21 : British police are sending just three officers to the U.S. as "cultural interpreters" during the World Cup given the lack of any U.S. funding, UK police said on Thursday.

By contrast, 40 officers went to Germany for the 2024 European Championship, with financing by the hosts, said Mark Roberts, who leads football policing. 

"The States are not funding mobile travel delegations this time," Roberts told reporters of next month's tournament where England and Scotland will play their three opening group games in the U.S.

Both nations have a huge travelling fan base and the English have a history of hooliganism, though the exorbitant cost may put many off this tournament which is being co-hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

"Our fans at World Cups are really well behaved ... I'm not anticipating problems, but clearly we'd rather have a presence there that can get involved if we are seeing issues develop," Roberts added, stressing that he was not criticising the U.S. decision nor was there hostility to a UK deployment. 

White House spokesman Davis Ingle said President Donald Trump was "focused on ensuring that this is not only an incredible experience for all fans and visitors, but also the safest and most secure in history".

Two additional British officers will be working with U.S. authorities at the Washington-based International Police Cooperation Center.

"Most of the other European countries just aren't bothering" to send their own officers to the tournament, Roberts added.

'CULTURAL' ASSISTANCE

Though the UK and U.S. share the same language and historical roots, British police accompanying fans would act as "cultural interpreters" to assist U.S. counterparts.

"We'll be saying to the local police often, 'This