WORLD CUP ’94 / DAILY REPORT : New Dallas Theme: Don’t Half-Fence Me In--or Out

The Dallas World Cup venue resolved one conflict and headed into another Saturday when workers began removing part of a controversial security fence and a local group threatened to picket matches.

“I know it’s been a very visual symbol of confrontation,” said venue director Bill Stroube of the chain-link fence, erected by the Dallas City Council at the Cotton Bowl in May despite opposition from FIFA and World Cup organizers. The fence will be taken down on the side where television cameras will be located, but soccer officials said they would try to get it removed all around the stadium.

Dallas police wanted the fence to prevent possible outbreaks of hooliganism. World Cup officials said it was unnecessary and insulting to fans.

Saturday’s Dallas Morning News reported a local group as saying it intended to “boycott and picket” games in protest of the organizers’ failure to award sufficient contracts to ethnic minorities. The first match at the stadium is between Spain and South Korea on Friday.