An armed police guard was put on the South Korean football team Saturday and players have also had their hotel telephone lines cut, according to reports.

The luxury hotel on the island of Jeju where the national squad have started final preparations for the World Cup has been sealed off and an armed detachment of police is protecting the team, officials said.

The hotel will be used by England later this month when they arrive to acclimatise to conditions in South Korea and Japan before the tournament starts on May 31.

Dutch head coach Guus Hiddink is now trying to keep his players under wraps as football fever mounts in South Korea.

The Korean Football Association (KFA) has warned of sanctions being taken if the media seek unauthorised interviews with players. A spokesman said this was to "reduce pressure" on the players.

According to Yonhap news agency, the KFA has ordered outside phone connections cut from all rooms in the Paradise Hotel. And Hiddink has told players to ignore questions raised by reporters.

Hiddink told reporters that he would give occasional interviews but the media must stay away from closed practice sessions. The coach was angry when many reporters went to a closed training session before a recent friendly with China.