By MSN’s Lee Harvey
Last updated: June 21 2006
The influence of the World Cup reaches way beyond the host nation to all corners of the globe and can induce bizarre behaviour in coaches, players and fans. We take a look at the ten strangest stories surrounding World Cup 2006.
1. Bulgarian prisoners protest
Two lifers in a Bulgarian prison demanded use of a television to watch the World Cup. When their request was denied, they went on a hunger strike and, to prove how serious they were about it, sewed their mouths virtually shut. Virtually because, in a moment of clarity, they remembered they’d need a small open corner of their mouths in order to smoke!
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2. Supporters lose their trousers
Patriotic followers of Holland were forced to watch their team’s game against the Ivory Coast in their pants after their traditional orange lederhosen were confiscated by stadium officials in Stuttgart. The offending garments, bright orange trousers replete with a lion’s tail, carried the name of a Dutch beer that wasn’t an official World Cup sponsor.
Over 1000 fans were defrocked on their way into the stadium. Though officials claimed they could be collected after the game, the trousers were thrown in with the rubbish. "It was ridiculous. Fortunately, I had a long t-shirt," one fan lamented.
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3. Alternative sex ban number one
Despite their capitulation to Spain in their opening match, Ukraine’s players have high hopes of reaching the semi finals in Germany. Coach Oleg Blokhin has promised to lift the squad’s strict celibacy rule if his team reach the last four – even for players who aren’t interested. "Those are don’t feel like it, I will drag them to their wives – take my word for it," assured Blokhin – a guarantee to get them in the mood!
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4. Food for thought
The Czech Republic squad requested that their hotel hire a Czech chef to prepare regular portions of Knedilky, a type of dumpling. The Mexicans made swift work of their hotel’s entire supply of chilli peppers after a frenetic burrito-eating session. Best of all, the Ivory Coast ensured they got the best meals possible by bringing their mums to Germany with them.
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5. Cambodian monks warned over behaviour
Having a national side so bad that the Cook Islands would give them a good game hasn’t stopped the 40,000 Buddhist monks living in Cambodia from embracing the World Cup spirit. Unfortunately for them, a love of football (replete with blind unquestioning faith and a love of chanting) is thought to threaten the Buddhist way of life. Though they are allowed to watch the matches, they will lose their monkhoods if they "cheer or make noise" according to supreme patriarch Non Nget.
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Religion and the World Cup
6. Would the honourable member hurry up?
Despite never qualifying for the World Cup finals, Bangladesh has millions of football fans, including many of its most senior politicians. Following a complaint from a treasury bench member during the Brazil vs Australia match, parliamentary speaker Akhtar Hamid Siddiki is considering cutting sessions short so the football-crazy politicians can watch every game.
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Football in Bangladesh
7. Pfister of fun
With the World Cup providing a welcome distraction from Corrie and EastEnders, it was more than generous of Togo to provide fans with a football soap opera to keep up to date with. They feuded with each other over money, they threatened to not turn up for games and their sole goal celebration (ten grown men doing bunny hops) will live long in the memory.
Best of all was their coach, Otto Pfister. The 68 year old resigned, came back and walked out again only to make a surprise appearance at their opening game dressed in jeans and a medallion. He even managed to flout FIFA’s no smoking policy, nipping round the back of the dug out for a crafty tab during Togo’s match against Switzerland.
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Otto Pfister's antics
8. Alternative sex ban number two
Like many coaches, Italian coach Marcello Lippi introduced a sex ban prior to his side’s first game. Unlike other coaches, he went one step further and had all the pay per view adult channels removed from the hotel’s television service.
Although this seems harsh, it is distinctly less disturbing for the Italian players than their experiences in the last World Cup. Their devoutly religious coach at the time, Giovanni Trapattoni, was rumoured to visit his players in their rooms to receive their confessions and absolve them of their sins.
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Marcello LippiGiovanni Trapattoni
9. Mascot mauled
It’s been tough for Goleo the lion. Unlike Naranjito the orange (Spain ’82) or Pique the stickman (Mexico ’86), Goleo has failed to win the public’s love. General disinterest led to the bankruptcy of the company that won the rights to produce Goleo replica toys. Worse than that, the 8-foot lion’s lack of trousers then led to him being branded indecent by German mothers groups.
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More about GoleoWorld Cup Mascots
10. Joke on the water
Following their opening game defeat at the hands of Brazil, Croatian team officials encouraged the players to lift their spirits with the healing power of 70s rock. The Croatian players went to see Deep Purple, who were playing at a venue only 100 yards from their training camp. "Music gets the rhythm process going and the blood stream flowing," claimed a member of the Croatian FA.
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