FIFA’S WORLD CUP JUSTICE

JUNE 21st, 2010

The first African world cup should have been a cause or unbridled celebration; a chance to bring some money into some desperately impoverished areas and a chance to focus the eyes of the world on the continuing problems (as well as the many good things) in South Africa. Unfortunately, FIFA isn’t really interested in any of that, just in protecting theirs and their sponsors interest’s as to the full extent allowed to them by the law.

It turns out the the extent of the law has been worringly extended: in 2006 the government approved the 2010 FIFA World Cup Special Measures Act which makes it a criminal offence to partake in “unauthorised commercial activities inside an exclusion zone” and “enter[ing] into a designated area while in unauthorised possession of a commercial object.” In effect this means that the thousands of England fans bearing the Sun branded vuvuzuelas to World Cup matches could be tried as criminals.

Last week there was a lot of brouhaha about “ambush marketing” when 36 ladies brandishing unfortunate ITV ex-pundit Robbie Earle’s World Cup tickets attended a match wearing orange mini dresses in the colour (but not the branding) of the Bavaria beer company. Having apparently decided that they own the colour orange, Fifa have already hauled the women before a “FIFA World Cup Court” and the two women charged with organising the stunt apparently face up to 6 months of prison.

There are 56 “FIFA World Cup Courts” set up in South Africa for the World Cup,staffing 1,500 workers. They have apparently seen 25 cases between them at an estimated cost of £160,000 per conviction for the host nation. An absolutely shameful waste of money in a country where the majority of people couldn’t hope to afford the cheapest Wold Cup Match ticket. It seems that the poor in South Africa waiting for that old conservative standby the “trickle down” effect, will be waiting for a while.

Source: Guardian

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