A survey by football's governing body FIFA has found that more than half of South African people are worried about the country's high crime rate impac

The World Cup, which goes to South Africa for the first time in 2010, is the beautiful game's showpiece event and is expected to attract global interest in the African nation. FIFA's survey showed 53% of people were worried that the nation's crime rate - which is one of the highest in the world - could affect the event, which is now less than 500 days away. Official statistics from the country show violent crime is a major issue, with more than 17,000 murders and almost 137,000 serious and violent assaults recorded in 2007.

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