Tasers at dawn for rival TV networks during World Cup

* From: The Daily Telegraph
* June 15, 2010

AUSTRALIA'S network news war has escalated with a Nine security guard allegedly Tasered by a Seven security guard before the Socceroos first World Cup match.

Rival camera crews filmed the Fanatics' procession to Durban's Kings Park Stadium when an arm wrestle for access turned violent.

The dispute ended with Taser burns to the former British military officer hired by Channel 9 to protect staff from South African street crime.

After the crews exchanged verbal threats, Channel 7 reporter Mike Amor stepped in a bid to end the childishness.

But witnesses claim that prompted Nine's bodyguard to step in to separate the pair, only to be Tasered by Seven's guard, confirmed as an off-duty South African policeman.

While the taser strike failed to fell "Russ" (Nine's security man, who once protected one-time UN boss Kofi Annan), he sustained bruising and minor burns to his stomach.

The confrontation ended when Nine reporter Allison Langdon brought a working police officer to break up the crews and check the Seven security man's credentials. No charges have been laid as yet.

Nine's national news director Mark Calvert said the Tasering turned the ratings rivalry ugly.

"When I hired security for the World Cup, we had been warned about the country's crime rate and possible terrorist threats. Who would have thought we'd need protection from a Channel 7 crew?" Mr Calvert said yesterday.

With a nod to comments by Seven news boss Peter Meakin last week, when he threatened to "shoot" rivals for his job, his opposite number at Nine added: "This is a classic case of taking the boss too literally."

But Mr Amor said: "Our guard pulled out his Taser gun, but we don't believe the other guy was actually Tasered. It calmed down and we actually had a beer at the bar with them [Nine] after the game".

"It was a silly thing and it's been sorted."

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/soccer/tasers-at-dawn-for-rival-tv-networks-during-world-cup/story-e6frey4r-1225879659203