THE World Cup already has a winner... and it's Blackburn!

Home Secretary and Blackburn MP Jack Straw was over the moon today as the world's media concluded its Ewood Park coverage of a high level conference on football hooliganism.

Scores of photographers, camera crews and newsmen and women crowded into Rovers' showpiece stadium for the meeting organised by the European Union.

And outside broadcast vans were parked on the forecourt outside Blackburn Rovers' ground beaming pictures across the world.

The growing row over ticket allocation has dominated the proceedings, but Mr Straw, who chaired with the event, was still delighted. He said: "In some ways it was fortuitous that things happened the way they did. This has helped us to focus on the problem, although there is little chance of any major increase in ticket allocations.

"But this has certainly helped to put Blackburn on the map and we are delighted with the way the conference went. It has been very productive."

Ranks of gleaming official cars were parked in the shadow of the redeveloped stands while security men patrolled the area during the conference.

Scores of top policemen from 26 different countries attended the two-day conference.

Most of the events were held in private as security experts worked to ensure the World Cup in France, starting in May, makes the headlines for all the right reasons.

Rovers manager Roy Hodgson helped to ensure the delegates had a warm Blackburn welcome.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.