Fear and loathing permeate baseball stadiums when the cheering groups show up. But it's not their chants, flag waving or the deafening trumpets and drums that have stadium workers concerned.

Their biggest problem is that some of the cheering groups are run by gangsters, who care more about shake-downs than rundowns.

More than 40 percent of club officials, stadium employees and security guards are ``afraid'' of some of the cheering groups, according to a survey conducted after the 2004 season by police and baseball officials.

Nearly 60 percent feel the cheering clubs are a ``cumbersome'' existence.

And they appear justified in their fears. Private cheering groups receive favors from teams, including preferential treatment in ticket distribution. But when gangsters take executive posts at these groups, they gain a convenient position to promote ticket scalping.

Other deeds are more sinister. To extort money, they complain about ``impolite'' security guards, sales clerks erring in giving change or water leaks staining their clothes, according to ballpark workers.

These groups are also known to resort to violence.

The situation with gangsters got so bad that the National Police Agency and 12 baseball teams set up a council last year to take them out of the ballgame.

The council conducted the postseason survey after a series of gangster arrests in connection with extortion, violence and other problems at ballparks.

Privately formed cheering groups usually occupy the first few rows of the outfield seats and blare their words and songs of encouragement to the accompaniment of brass instruments and drums.

Most members are true fans of the team, but they, too, are being victimized.

As soon as the gates open for a game, the gangsters occupy a large number of unreserved seats and resell them at exorbitant prices.

In one case, three gangsters were arrested last year on suspicion of attempted extortion.

They locked up two employees of Tokyo Dome in a warehouse and demanded they ``show sincerity'' in apologizing for stains caused by a water leakage. In essence, according to police, the yakuza wanted tickets and gift coupons from Tokyo Dome, home stadium of the Yomiuri Giants.

The three gangsters and others arrested in separate cases were members of four private cheering groups of the Yomiuri Giants and the Hanshin Tigers. The council banned the four groups from all the stadiums. But police say the arrests are only the tip of the iceberg, considering many workers are afraid to speak out.

The survey polled 30 club officials, 72 stadium employees and 75 stadium guards about cheering groups. Of the 177 polled, 42 percent said they feel or once felt afraid of such groups.

Asked about how they respond to incidences of violence involving the groups, 41 percent said they are or once were unable to properly give warnings.

An official of a Pacific League team said stadium staff do not get actively involved to stop trouble because ``it would just add fuel to the fire.''

Most of those polled said the ban on the four cheering groups had an immediate effect. The number of fights, acts of violence and illegal seat resale dropped significantly. Forty-five percent said the ban improved the atmosphere in the outfield bleachers.

Many are cautious about allowing the four groups back to the stadiums; 50.8 percent said it would affect stadium management.(IHT/Asahi: December 21,2004)