Swiss Army v Bavarian Babes

I am sorry for not posting anything in a couple of days. For reasons that I have mentioned via my twitter, I have not been able to post as frequent as I would like. I don't want to touch on the organization of this event, until further later on throughout my trip.

The past couple of days, there has been an uproar in local media about the ambush marketing tactics by Dutch brewery, Bavaria. The uproar isnt aimed at Bavaria, but at FIFA's bullying approach. During the Netherlands match against Denmark, approximately 36 females, all thought to be Dutch, were taken and questioned after the match. Their only offense was recreating what appeared to be a Robert Palmer video, having all women dressed exactly the same. The 36 females were all dressed in an orange dresses, a nice outfit I might add.

We all know that FIFA, err, I mean the Swiss Army, can invade a country and do as they please. I am all for copyright and trademark protection, but not at the cost of certain freedoms. By no means am I applauding Bavaria Brewery, and I undestand coaches, players, federations can not make any sort of political, religious, or economical gestures, implied or direct, but the fans? Since when do I have to remain faithful to Budwieser? Or Coca Cola? Or Hyundai-Kia? Or VISA?

And this sort of protectionism doesn't just extend in and around the stadium, it is all over the country. Six Dutch fans happened to stay at the same guest house I am in. After they learned that I had media passes, I instantly became their best friend. The morning after the match, the Dutch fans waited impatiently for me to wake up. I became aware that the Dutch were going to have a training session at 11:30 am at some local university. They asked me if I could get them in. I made no promises, but told them I would try. Unfortunately, I was not able to get them in, but they had a great view of the team from above the parking lot of Wits Rugby Stadium. There must have been about 75 Dutch fans watching their team train, when an unidentified member, claiming to be with the Dutch federation, instructed all people to put their cameras away. This official insisted that the cameras would be confiscated and that the pictures would be erased.

At that time, I had my credentials hidden under my fleece, and started to give the official some lip. I asked who gave him the authority to confiscate personal belongings? He did not answer me. It make me sick to my stomach to see the bully tactics that these mafiosos use against againt the fans, fans who don't have the money to spend, but still do so just to see the team they love.

SHAME ON YOU FIFA!