BBC make World Cup staff decision 40 days before start of tournament

The FIFA World Cup is edging ever closer, and it is only 40 days until it all kicks off, and all the final details are being put in place by the organisers, the hosting nations and broadcasters like the BBC to ensure it runs smoothly.

Visas to be able to work in the three North American nations will be getting arranged for all those set to travel for the competition, particularly for those journalists, pundits and those working with the broadcasters in covering the tournament.

Now the BBC has ordered staff that will be travelling to undergo special training in anticipation of rioting ahead of their trip to Canada, Mexico and the United States.

According to the Telegraph, it can be revealed that those heading to the tournament have been undertaking a mandatory “public order” course.

The course is said to involve role-playing possible scenarios, with one involving an employee being asked to behave like an angry protester and others that could result in staff being splattered in fake blood.

It has been reported that the costs will be covered by the BBC and, by extension, the licence fee payers, with it being touted at £750 per person and the total bill likely to run into tens of thousands of pounds.

A BBC Sport TV microphone is seen during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers FC and Brighton & Hove Albion FC (Getty Images)

The BBC is not the only broadcaster from the United Kingdom, as this duty will be shared with ITV; however, there are no reports that they are also providing this training to their staff ahead of the World Cup.

It is also believed that the BBC put their staff through similar training for the 2010 World Cup, which was in South Africa.

While the BBC refused to provide comment about why they are giving their staff the training as the World Cup edges ever closer, it may be due to the recent events that have occurred in North America.

In February, Mexico witnessed a wave of violence after the country’s most wanted man, drug cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, was killed during a security operation to arrest him.

Meanwhile, in the United States, only last week US President Donald Trump was the target of an assassination attempt as a gunman stormed the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington.

There have also been warnings to travelling fans for the World Cup in the United States from Amnesty International and dozens of civil and human rights groups warning visitors of “rising authoritarianism and increasing violence” linked with mass deportations carried out by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).