LONDON - England supporters planning to go to South Africa for next year’s football World Cup may face problems such as - crime, rip-off prices and cows, British Foreign Office (FO) has cautioned.

Launching its ‘Be On The Ball’ campaign, the FO also urged approximately 25,000 supporters, expected to follow the England team in South Africa, to book their accommodation early.

“Hotel prices are going to be expensive. I can’t remember a World Cup where prices were not hiked up. I think this is not going to be the cheapest World Cup there has ever been,” Sky News quoted Kevin Miles, a director of the Football Supporters’ Federation, as saying.

The FO also warned supporters to watch out for carjackers, especially near Johannesburg airport.

Ex-England international Gary Mabbutt, who is a World Cup ambassador, said: “A hundred million pounds is being spent on safety and security. There are 41,000 police officers specifically trained for the World Cup and 120,000 reservists to be called up.”

He added that drivers might come across cows and goats in the middle of minor roads, which were also likely to have potholes.

But he said some new roads had been built between the tournament venues.

The 2010 event, running from June 11 to July 11, is the first World Cup to be held in Africa.

England is third favourites to win, behind Brazil and European champions Spain. (ANI)