Joesoef
14-01-06, 08:01
Jan. 13 - A Dutch firm is making plastic helmets like those worn by German soldiers during the Nazi era for soccer fans. Renae Bunney reports.
The helmets have upset the Netherlands' football authority. Orders for plastic helmets are coming from Germany, Britain, France, Italy and Argentina.
The company making the helmets advises fans on their website to wear the helmets with their "infantry" friends, or in "battalions" at the stadiums.
SOUNDBITES:
Floor Van Laar, Businessman, saying (English):
"Actually, we also got some orders in from Germany yesterday, they want them in gold colour and we got an order yesterday for 5000 of them and the guy said "look, any order given by the Dutch fans, I will match by two" so it looks like it's going to be a severe competition even before the games start."
Frank Huizinga, Netherlands Football Authority spokesman, saying (English):
"What they want to try is to make a link between football and the war and we think it's not necessary"
© Reuters 2005. All rights reserved.
The helmets have upset the Netherlands' football authority. Orders for plastic helmets are coming from Germany, Britain, France, Italy and Argentina.
The company making the helmets advises fans on their website to wear the helmets with their "infantry" friends, or in "battalions" at the stadiums.
SOUNDBITES:
Floor Van Laar, Businessman, saying (English):
"Actually, we also got some orders in from Germany yesterday, they want them in gold colour and we got an order yesterday for 5000 of them and the guy said "look, any order given by the Dutch fans, I will match by two" so it looks like it's going to be a severe competition even before the games start."
Frank Huizinga, Netherlands Football Authority spokesman, saying (English):
"What they want to try is to make a link between football and the war and we think it's not necessary"
© Reuters 2005. All rights reserved.