the corporate world cup. . .

Stevie H · March 2, 2006

World Cup is FIFA's event not Germany's, says Blatter

Wed Mar 1, 2006 10:35 AM GMT162

http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticl...-53_L01633963:1

BERLIN, March 1 (Reuters) - FIFA president Sepp Blatter on Wednesday rejected criticism in Germany of the strict rules governing food and drink in World Cup stadiums, saying the tournament belonged to FIFA not Germany.

"I need to be clear about this once and for all: the World Cup does not belong to Germany, this is not a German World Cup. It is a FIFA World Cup in Germany that cost us 1 billion Swiss francs ($758.7 million)," Blatter told top-selling German daily Bild in an interview.

The world soccer body has contracted 21 firms to sponsor the month-long tournament, which starts on June 9, and has placed strict limits on the presence of non-sponsors in Germany's 12 World Cup stadiums.

U.S. beermaker Anheuser Busch's (BUD.N: Quote, Profile, Research) Budweiser will be the only beer sold in the stadiums -- a slap in the face to many Germans who pride themselves on the quality of their own brew.

"It was on the basis of these ground rules that Germany was given the World Cup," Blatter said. "They approved them, not only the German Football Association (DFB) but also the government."

Blatter also defended a decision by FIFA in January to cancel the World Cup opening gala in Berlin over concerns it would ruin the pitch at the city's Olympic Stadium, a key site for the tournament.

"This was the best decision we made. Unfortunately it was much too late," Blatter said.

and the grauniad 'fiver' take on it.

AND YOU THOUGHT IT WAS ABOUT THE GLORY...

In exactly 100 days time, the Fifa Fifa Fifa Fifa World Cup 2006 will kick off. Yes, you heard us right. It's not the Germany 2006 World Cup. Or even the Fiver's hysterically funny Siemens Der Soccerball Achtung Schnell! Schnell! Schnell! Scorpions Wind Of Change World Cup. Instead, as Sepp Blatter made quite clear today, the tournament belongs to Fifa and its 21 official partners - and absolutely no one else.

"I need to be clear about this once and for all: the World Cup does not belong to Germany, this is not a German World Cup," Blatter blustered to top German tabloid Bild (think the S*n, but with armpit hair). "It is a Fifa World Cup in Germany that cost us 1bn Swiss francs! (GBP435m)". Don't expect Sepp to be harangued by bailiffs any time soon, however - according to Fifa's latest financial report, they'll have GBP200m profit in their coffers by December.

All of which means that, despite considerable protests in Germany, fans won't be able to guzzle down Bavarian beer nor deep-throat meaty German sausages during games. Instead it'll be Big Macs and Chicken McNuggets all round (McDonalds are an official partner) washed down with Coca Cola or horrible, flat, weak, Beech-wood aged Budweiser.

Not that Sepp cares. "It was on the basis of these ground rules that you were given the World Cup," he barfed at his hosts, before sumo-ing the remaining protests into oblivion.

Edited March 2, 2006 by Stevie H

matty · March 2, 2006

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