FIFA referee eyes Japan's World Cup stadiums

Former FIFA referee Leslie Mottram believes Japan's soccer-only stadiums will provide a much better atmosphere at the 2002 World Cup than those built with a running track.

The 50-year-old Scotsman, who officiated at the 1994 World Cup in the United States and Euro 96 in England, refereed Saturday's opening match at the 30 billion yen ($245 million) Shizuoka Stadium.

"Certainly it compared very favourably with the World Cup stadiums in America, and the field was good," said Mottram. "The only thing I did not like was the running track because you lose a bit of the atmosphere.

"I think the fans like to see the whites of the players' eyes and the emotions on their faces, but you miss this when there's a running track.

"It's also difficult to see the referee's decisions and all the small details because the fans are so far away. It's the same at Yokohama International, which will stage the World Cup final."

Not all Japan's 10 stadiums for the World Cup will be multi-purpose, as the soccer-only venues include Saitama, which will stage one semi-final, and Ibaraki Stadium, which opens on Saturday when Kashima Antlers entertain Kashiwa Reysol in a J.League match.

"Next weekend's game will be a different kettle of fish because Kashima is a purely football stadium," said Mottram.

Mottram, who will retire at the end of the season after moving to Japan following Euro 96, added: "Although, from a football purist's point of view, you lose a bit when there's a running track, I can understand why in the economic climate they build these multi-purpose stadiums."

On Saturday, a full house of 52,959 watched Shimizu S-Pulse beat Jubilo Iwata 1-0 in the Shizuoka derby, ending Jubilo's eight-match winning start to the season.