Ultra-tight security for Real Madrid stars in Thailand

Security for Spanish giants Real Madrid will be extremely tight when they visit Thailand this weekend, with two police assigned as bodyguards to each of the team's star players.

Amid newspaper reports that the precautions had been tightened in the wake of Tuesday's hotel bombing in Jakarta, police said a total of 1,200 officers will be deployed to ensure the 37-hour visit goes off without a hitch.

Police Colonel Pisant Kuldilok said extra officers had been drafted in for Sunday's friendly between Real and the Thai national side, after a security glitch which allowed a fan to invade the pitch during last month's tour by English Premier League team Liverpool.

"We increased the number of personnel on hand in order not to repeat our small mistake last time," he told AFP. The fan managed to embrace two Liverpool players before being hauled off the field.

"Two police officers will take care of each footballer to provide them with security all the time," Pisant said, adding that the tight security had been planned even before the Jakarta blast which killed at least 10 people.

Real Madrid, headlined by new signing David Beckham who is wildly popular in Thailand, will arrive in Bangkok Saturday morning and hold a training session later that day.

During their whistlestop visit, part of a tour of Asia, the players may fit in a private late-night shopping expedition after the match, just a few hours before they depart for Spain.

A major department store chain said the Tourism Authority of Thailand had asked it to open its up-market Central and Zen outlets in downtown Bangkok for the benefit of the team.

"We have been asked to open for a special late-night shopping trip for the team and their spouses," a Central official said.

"We are glad to do that but there is no confirmation yet whether they will come because they may be fatigued from the game."