FIFA fears World Cup theft

Whoever wins the World Cup this year may only be allowed to keep the trophy for six weeks after a FIFA official revealed that football's world governing body fears the trophy may be stolen.

Until now, it has been customary for the winning team to keep the trophy until they defend the title in the following finals tournament.

However, spokesman Thomas von Ubrizsy, who is in Ecuador with the trophy as part of the 'FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour', claimed there would be a change in the rules. He said: "In the future, FIFA wants to reduce the time to six or seven weeks. The Board fears a theft, like the Jules Rimet Cup."

The Jules Rimet Trophy, the predecessor of the current World Cup, was stolen twice.

The first was in 1966 in England although it was later discovered under a hedge by a dog called Pickles.

The second time it was stolen from the Brazilian Football Federation in 1983 and subsequently melted down.

Brazil had been given the trophy permanently for winning it three times.