OSAKA — Fears of hooligans running rampant in Osaka on Wednesday after a key World Cup soccer tie between England and Nigeria proved unfounded, and now opinions are mixed over the heavy security and concern prior to the game.
After the match ended in a scoreless tie, the entertainment districts of Osaka were packed with England fans who partied well into the night under the watchful eyes of nearly 7,700 police officers.
Although a few jumped into the Dotonbori River to celebrate their team's advancement to the next round, none were arrested for hooliganism. On Thursday morning, city and police officials breathed a sigh of relief that the evening had passed without violence.
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