Riyadh: The World Cup ended its first global tour on Saturday with a public display in a Saudi Arabian shopping mall.

“The reception of the trophy in each country was outstanding. We had very emotional people, people who were crying,” said Alex Koch, a Fifa official, who toured 28 countries with the gold trophy.

“The most impressive reaction we got was from an 80-year-old man in Ecuador, in Quito, who said it was the highlight of his life, to see the trophy before dying,” Koch said. In Saudi Arabia, the reception was more conservative as hundreds of young men in white robes and red headscarves queued to have their picture taken beside the coveted Cup, which began its world tour in Ghana in January.

The Cup was designed by Silvio Gazzaniga and awarded for the first time at the 1974 finals. The original Jules Rimet trophy was won outright by Brazil when they became world champions for the third time in 1970.

Saudis joked that this could be the closest they will ever get to soccer’s most famous prize.

Welcome move

Berlin: A court decision, clearing the way for harsher penalties against streakers who disrupt soccer matches by running on to the pitch, was welcomed by Germany's World Cup organising committee on Saturday.

Horst R. Schmidt, the committee’s vice president, said Friday’s court ruling upholding a 10,000 euro ($12,550) fine against a streaker would serve as a deterrent.

“We’re certain that this ruling will have an effect during the World Cup and are delighted to have the appropriate legal means at our disposal now,” he said in a statement. “It has been made quite clear that these are not simply misdemeanours.”

Tunisia plan

Tunis: Tunisia will host a tournament involving Uruguay, Belarus and Libya to prepare for the World Cup finals in Germany, the Tunisian Football Federation (TFF) said on Saturday.