Germany's World Cup stadia have serious safety faults and lessons have not been learned from the Heysel and Hillsborough disasters, according to a report released.

The survey by the respected consumer watchdog Stiftung Warentest, claims four stadia in Berlin, Leipzig, Kaiserslautern and Gelsenkirchen are "substantially" unsafe - particularly in their ability to allow supporters on to the pitch in case of crowd problems or fire. Eight others are deemed to have lesser safety problems.

World Cup organisers, including committee president Franz Beckenbauer, have attempted to dismiss the findings. The report says: "There are still faults in terms of safety, escape routes and construction which do not correspond to the latest technology

"The importance of escape routes on to the pitch was shown by the disasters in Brussels in 1985 and in Sheffield in 1989. During a panic in the stands, spectators usually run down towards the pitch.

"Overall this is a sad result for such an important issue. Germany should have put international standards in place. But there are five months to go. This time should be used by those responsible to remove these faults as far as possible."

England are not due to play their group matches in any of the four stadia highlighted, but should they reach the quarter-finals it would be in either Berlin or Gelsenkirchen where the report says stairs are too steep and there are obstructions preventing a quick exit.

Beckenbauer, however, has hit back at the findings and insisted the grounds are in good condition to host the tournament which begins on June 9th.

"I'm sick of all this 'we know best'," he told the Bild newspaper. "Stiftung Warentest may know a lot about facial cream, olive oil and vacuum cleaners - and that is what they should stick to."

Representatives of some of the venues also rejected the criticism.

Berlin's Olympic Stadium spokesman Christoph Meyer believes the recent work done there is satisfactory.

"We will obviously look at the results. But in Berlin we have a building which has lasted the test of time and was renovated between 2000 and 2004 according to regulations for buildings of historical significance," he said.

Leipzig stadium business manager Winfried Lonzen added: "At the end of 2004, the stadium passed all tests (for insurance, building regulations and fire protection) with no problems.
"Even FIFA saw no problems with the stadium when Germany played Cameroon during the Confederations Cup."

World Cup organisers insist the study concentrated on possible crowd panic scenarios over and above the building regulations in force.

Organising committee vice-president Wolfgang Niersbach said: "The committee is open to any suggestions which aim to improve the general framework, and thus also the implementation of this incredible project that is the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

"We will, however, resist any unnecessary attempts at spreading panic which will only serve to create uncertainty among fans and harm the image and reputation of the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany."

Organisers pointed out that terracing has been abolished for international matches since Hillsborough, and pitches are no longer fenced in.

A statement added: "The fact that many modern stadia are built on several levels also makes it impractical to have escape exits towards the interior. Modern practices, supported by independent assessments, clearly recommend that escape exits should lead outwards."