DALLAS. June 5: The maln Dallas daily newspaper appealed on Saturday for a fence around the field at the World Cup venue to be replaced, calling it a "chain-link monstrosity" that may dent the city's image, reports Reuter.

"Isn't there some way to put up. a safety barrier that would not make the Cotton Bowl look like a prison or a dog kennel." the Dallas Morning News said in its lead editorial.

World Cup organisers and world body FIFA are strongly opposed to fences at the nine sites, arguing that they are unnecessary. unsightly and treat fans like animals.

Police in three venues — Washington and San Francisco are the others —have insisted on fences, however.

The obtrusive chain-link fence that separates the stands from the playing field will block the view of many soccer fans, who have travelled thousands of miles to see their teams play," the newspaper editorial said.

The heavy metal and thick poles make it almost impossible to see the entire length of the field from lower-level seats." it continued, adding that a compromise reached between the city and World Cup on Wednesday was unsatisfactory.

Under the compromise, the city agreed to remove the security fence on the west side of the Cotton Bowl where the television cameras and dignitaries will be.