Uruguay increases World Cup play-off security

Uruguay say at least 800 police officers will be on duty at the Centanario stadium on Sunday to guard Australia's World Cup play-off game.

The plans to raise security comes after police in Montevideo blamed "professional agitators" for the hostile reception given yesterday to the Australian squad on its arrival in South America.

Players were barged and spat at with 30 of the group which hassled the visiting Australian team known to police according to deputy police chief Pedro Delgado.

Uruguayan Interior minister Guillermo Stirling met today with Australia's ambassador to Argentina and Uruguay with Stirling apolgising for the ugly scenes at the airport.

"The vast majority of Uruguayans were ashamed of what happened. We've passed on our apologies because nobody deserves to be greeted like that, even less so Australia, who have been so generous to Uruguay," he said.

The Uruguayan federation offered to transfer the Australian team to the Argentine capital Buenos Aires to prepare for the game but the Australian party refused.

Australia's ambassador Sarhym Miraham said the airport incident was "unexpected, unusual and unpleasant" and security for the Australian players has been increased.

Illness for defender Craig Moore has also seen the Australians start to worry over food poisoning attempts in the build-up to the decisive game.

Soccer Australia chairman Ian Knop says security had been raised "quite dramatically" with the arrival of a federal policeman from Buenos Aires to oversee security for the Australia squad who lead the play-off 1-0.

The hasty arrangements for the security of the team in Montevideo can be blamed on the fact that Australia only knew their play-off opponents last week.

Knop is also preparing to fly in a chef to cook for the Australian team to alleviate fears of food poisoning after Moore's illness which is not expected to prevent him from playing at the weekend.