THE senior British police officer supporting security operations at the World Cup yesterday suffered the embarrassment of being refused entry to a Japanese football stadium.

Durham Assistant Chief Constable Ron Hogg was stopped by an over-zealous security guard at the gates of the Sapporo Dome, home of today's tense match between England and Argentina - because he did not have his identity pass.

Mr Hogg, 50, was with his deputy, Superintendent Graham Stafford, of Northumbria Police.

The two officers had left their World Cup passes in their hotel rooms but did not think they would have much trouble getting in - particularly as they had been invited to the stadium to discuss security by their Japanese counterpart, Iwato Suzuki.

Mr Hogg, who is heading the specialist intelligence unit during the World Cup, told The Northern Echo: "A security guard stopped us and we were surrounded by Japanese police.

"He wouldn't let us in. It was 20 minutes before we got in and it wasn't until we threatened to walk away that he finally let us pass."

Mr Hogg added: "To be fair, they are concerned as much about terrorism as they are about hooliganism - that's a serious concern for a lot of us. But it was a bit frustrating."