FIFA's crackdown on non-official sponsors and ambush marketing took a further twist when it was revealed that no players featuring in adverts for rivals of official matchball sponsor Adidas, would be allowed to participate in the World Cup quarter-finals.
The controversy follows hot on the heels of RobbieEarle-gate, which saw 30 Dutch models arrested for the heinous crime of wearing unofficial merchandising.
The clampdown is a blow for Nike, whose self-indulgent ad features the likes of Rooney (England), Ronaldo (Portugal), Cannavaro (Italy), Ronaldinho (Brazil) and Ribery (France).
With only Brazil bowing to FIFA's requirements and leaving out Ronaldinho, it meant a quarter-final stage bereft of most of Europe's top guns - and Portugal.
Under FIFA's wide ranging powers, Roger Federer was also prevented from progressing past the quarter-finals at Wimbledon, because it is on at the same time as the World Cup.
Thursday 1 July 2010
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