Orange 'Dutchy' Dresses Wreak World Cup Havoc, Causing Arrests and TV Star's Firing
They were not promoting SunnyD, but allegedly Bavaria beer. Photo: Getty Images
Orange you glad you didn't wear orange to the Netherlands vs. Denmark World Cup match?
Two women have been arrested and ITV sports presenter/former footballer Robbie Earle has been fired after 36 women turned up to Monday's match in South Africa wearing bright orange "Dutchy" minidresses -- because FIFA officials claim it was all part of an unauthorized beer promotion, the Daily Telegraph reports.
Dutch beer brand Bavaria reportedly handed out the garish gowns (ironically resembling prison uniforms) ahead of the match, but FIFA -- which is working solely with beer sponsor Budweiser -- is accusing the company of hiring South African models to wear the gowns as part of a guerilla marketing ploy, according to the paper.
"It looked quite premeditated –- someone paid them money, bought their tickets and sent them in there," a police source told the Daily Telegraph.
Earle was reportedly axed from ITV after the women's tickets were traced back to his allocated "friends and family" package, though he is denying that he has any connection to Bavaria.
The group of women reportedly claim that they were asked to leave the stadium, and were then forcibly ejected and detained for three hours while officials allegedly told them they could face six months in prison for the stunt.
(Ladies, ladies -- no Sunkist orange frock is worth jail time.)
"In the second half, about 40 stewards surrounded us and forced us to leave the stadium," detainee Barbara Kastein told the paper. "They pushed us up the stairs, and one of the girls fell.
"The police came and kept on asking us the same questions over and over, asking if we worked for Bavaria. They said we were ambush-marketing and it was against the law in South Africa.
"They said we would be arrested and would stay in jail for six months. Girls were crying. It was bad.
"They said they would sue me. All of this for wearing an orange dress."
Kastein claims that she and her friends were merely supporting the Dutch team in a dress inspired by Dutch WAG Sylvie van der Vaart.
Now, two of the women have been arrested this morning and will be charged for their involvement, the paper reports.
Bavaria, which reportedly pulled a similar stunt at the 2006 World Cup, which resulted in fans wearing Bavaria orange-branded lederhosen to sit in their undies or leave the stadium, claims it is all a big misunderstanding.
"[People] should have the right to wear what they want," Bavaria spokesman Peer Swinkels told the Daily Telegraph.
"The Dutch people are a little crazy about orange and we wear it on public holidays and events like the World Cup.
"This time we put no branding on the dress. And Fifa don't have a monopoly over orange."
Goodness! Who needs goals and red cards with this kind of off-the-field drama?
Meanwhile, check out Target's World Cup fashion blunder.
Tags: 2010 World Cup, bavaria, beer, Budweiser, dresses, dutchy, fifa, guerilla marketing, orange dresses, robbie earle, world cup, world cup fashion







jrd000000001, 6-16-2010, 2:44PM
ladies ladies.... come to AOL where you can do all the free advertising you want
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