World Cup 2010: British journalist held over England fan 'trespass'

Pavlos Joseph is alleged to have entered the England dressing room with the assistance of the Sunday Mirror journalist Simon Wright. Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

A British journalist was today accused of helping to orchestrate the incident in which a fan walked into the England dressing room after the World Cup group match against Algeria.

Sunday Mirror reporter Simon Wright, 44, was arrested yesterday at Cape Town international airport after CCTV footage allegedly showed he was involved in the incident after the match at Green Point stadium in the city on June 18.

He appeared in a special World Cup court in Cape Town late last night on charges of defeating the ends of justice and flouting the provisions of the South Africa immigration act.

He was granted 3,000 rand (£260) bail, his passport was confiscated, and he will appear in court again tomorrow.

The national commissioner of police, General Bheki Cele, said: "The police have reason to believe this incident was orchestrated, and involved the co-operation of a number of individuals.

"This is revealed by initial investigations and what has been observed from CCTV footage.

"The police strongly believe the motive was to put the World Cup security in a bad light, and possibly to profit from this act.

Guardian: