presumably. I saw swathes of them on the highlights last night. There are clearly teams who should not be there at all. By expanding the finals to 32 teams and easing the passage of teams from certain regions in qualifying for the finals, the world cup is devalued somewhat. Who on earth would want to sit through that Algeria v Slovenia match, even without the benefit of hindsight?

the fans in the stadia get full ITV commentary and punditary. Poor sods. Would also explain away the vuvuzela horns, there to mask Edgar Davids pearls of wisdom.

seem to think that the best way of showing their coverage is better is by aimlessly throwing huge sums of money at it.

This can be the only explanation for Gary et al being in SA, when they could just as easily sit in a studio in London. The pointless bus. The BBC having several hundred staff in SA when about 50 would probably suffice.

I can't see any reason for any of their excesses, other than it's a mindset that's well set within both institutions.

If that was the case the drinks company wouldn't have been buying them off the people who had them. I don't think TV companies throw money at events like these to make an impression but it is a fact of life that if a company - any company - has a relationship with a high-profile event that a lot of people really want to go to, then the number of people from that company who decide that they simply *have* to be there will just grow and grow.

may get a complimentary allocation of seats, particulalry for the smaller games. It may be a spurious comparison, but when I worked for Bass, as sponsors of the Carling Premiership, Bass had comped tickets for every fixture. The top games were held back for customers, but there were always tickets free if you weren't fussy - I recall being begged to attend a mid-week match at Norwich as the entire allocation hadn't shifted.

No-one told a collague of mine that tickets came with full wine and dine. He went to see his beloved Everton wearing a replica shirt thinking he'd be out on the terraces. It was a long old afternoon sat in an exec box with a bunch of suits from the local cash and carry chain, none of whom seemed to know anything about football.

Quite why Robbie had so many tickets is hard to imagine. Maybe it's ITV's entire allocation?

but last time (sorry if this in the piece not read it yet) the dutch fans were stripped of their promotional lederhosen and had to attend the game in their underclothes. When I first saw this story did wonder if that was part for the ploy of brewery I mean 35 semiclad young women would never get any tv coverage would it now.

ps: we'll hear loads more about this sponsorship pressure nonsensse when the Olympics hit London as every kebab house and beer off is sued for cashing in the games

And my (non transferable) ticket was stamped 'His Excellency The President of Nigeria'. No-one stopped me at the turnstiles. Perhaps the Japanese think we all look the same?

My eyesight may not be what it once was but I could swear they're blonde rather than blond ... sorry

Believable. It is so obvious that wearing orange would make them stand out. At a Holland game.

I could have sworn I saw someone waving the current edition of The Word at the England game. That's Mark Ellen for the Bloody Tower then.

...what would you do?

..for posting a total non story. Then I realised, its not that, its a bloody scandal.

Driven by fear, and the mighty dollar (rand, pound, euro, whatever), FIFA and their advertising partners (Official Drill Bit Suppliers to The World Cup, anyone?) are prepared, yet again to line the pockets of the legal profession because an "unauthorised" company has had the nerve to pull a stunt.

Oh, much wailing and gnashing of teeth must surely follow, as Budweiser (other beers are available) realise that this may cost them 1/10000000th of their potential revenue from this corporate orgy of advertising, due to 35 ladies in orange at a Dutch match.

Utterly ridiculous, and scandalous. Chris G hits the nail on the head above:

ps: we'll hear loads more about this sponsorship pressure nonsensse when the Olympics hit London as every kebab house and beer off is sued for cashing in the games

God help any onion ring vendor who inadvertently hands out a plate of 5 rings in "that" shape.

Grr...etc..etc...where are my slippers....?

'Fifa states that tickets supplied to sponsors and partners can only be passed to family and friends and cannot be handed to third parties or resold'.

I come from a long line of seriously breeding Irish Catholics but even I would struggle to find 50, still less 50 you would schlepp to remote Rustenberg for a freebie ticket.

So of course Robbie Earle was going to move the tickets on, what else would he do ? This is pure cant, and it is disgraceful that ITV have gone along with it, just because Fifa are embarrassed.

It is more scandalous that he was given 50 tickets in the first place. Is anyone in Fifa going to have their head roll for that ? To use the famous Scottish double positive : aye, right.

I just visited a beer website. I didn't get the connection between the models and the beer - still don't really - have they appeared in a commercial and would be instantly recognisable to Dutch viewers (or a more widespread audience)? They do a blonde beer - is that the point?
I don't get it ... but I'm feeling a little thirsty.