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Netherlands World Cup Fans In Trouble Over Skimpy Dresses (PHOTOS)

First Posted: 06/16/10 11:43 AM ET   Updated: 05/25/11 05:45 PM ET

(AP) JOHANNESBURG — Two Dutch women were released on bail Wednesday after facing charges they took part in an ambush marketing campaign at a World Cup match.

(SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOS)

The women were among a group of more than 30 Dutch women who attended Monday's Netherlands-Denmark game at Soccer City wearing orange minidresses paid for by brewing company Bavaria. They said they were ordered from the stadium by FIFA officials.

The women are being prosecuted under the Contravention of Merchandise Marks Act which covers ambush marketing, when a company benefits from an event without paying for advertising.

South African police arrested the women at their hotel in the Johannesburg district of Roodepoort on Wednesday.

"We view ambush marketing in a very serious light and we urge people not to embark on these ambush campaigns," police said in a statement.

The women appeared at Johannesburg Magistrates Court and were released on bail of 10,000 rand ($1300) each, with their next court appearance set for Monday.

FIFA on Wednesday condemned the "illicit activity," but said it had not pressed charges against the women.

"The matter is now under criminal investigation, and the South African Police Service is proceeding as per the normal legislation," FIFA spokesman Nicolas Maingot said.

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Should the minidress-wearing fans be allowed to the games?

Yes -- what's wrong with a little marketing?

No -- it's distracting for other fans.

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(AP) JOHANNESBURG — Two Dutch women were released on bail Wednesday after facing charges they took part in an ambush marketing campaign at a World Cup match. (SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOS) The women...
(AP) JOHANNESBURG — Two Dutch women were released on bail Wednesday after facing charges they took part in an ambush marketing campaign at a World Cup match. (SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOS) The women...
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09:10 AM on 07/07/2010
Check out the craziness here in Amsterdam last night when we went through to the finals!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JB1-h5MpKy8
RoofinReality
In the middle, trending fast away from the radical
02:12 PM on 06/22/2010
Don't get it. But maybe because I get enough I'm missing something here.
Hemline - sure a little high.
Neckline - on some, sure a little low.
But nothing revealing. Heck I've seen Helen Mirren's stuff and not a single person was offended.
Backwards if you ask me as these dresses aren't in any way offensive. Course, I live in the States. Maybe they did offend the customs of S. Africa.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
ScapeGoat
Facts are stubborn things. Science Rocks!
10:03 PM on 06/21/2010
and the problem is ... what?

Not skimpy enough!
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duvster
a legend in his own mind
02:06 PM on 06/21/2010
skimpy? Maybe that's dutch for orange.
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bobbyperu
Bobby Peru don't come up for air
01:03 PM on 06/21/2010
I find it funny that they have to pay a larger amount in bail than the family who beat the father to death for wanting to watch the futbol match.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
mdlawyer2
01:06 PM on 06/19/2010
Ambush marketing? What are they purportedly marketing, SUNKIST orange soda?
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
planetmondo
Christian, Musician, Scientist, Citizen
12:58 PM on 06/19/2010
vuvuzelas sorry spelling not my best subject
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
planetmondo
Christian, Musician, Scientist, Citizen
12:56 PM on 06/19/2010
pretty girls are always distracting ( not all distractions are bad.)
Vuvuxalis are not distracting? go figure.
02:17 AM on 06/19/2010
What free spirits these ladies possess ! Yeah Girls !
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
keysbreezin
My micro-bio is still empty
07:35 PM on 06/18/2010
i think I felt it move.
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
01:39 PM on 06/18/2010
Apparently these women in the dresses weren't Dutch - they were local South Africans who auditioned to be employed for this stunt.

A British sportscaster was fired in connection with this, because he'd given 36 of his free "comp" tickets that were only to be used for his friends and family to the brewery so they could do this.

The brewery has a history of doing this kind of thing - "Bavaria has clashed with Fifa before over supporters wearing its orange clothes to stadiums. Four years ago at the Germany World Cup, Fifa ordered scores of Dutch men to remove orange lederhosen bearing the name of Bavaria." (from a guardian.co.uk article)
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
AbsolutBlue
I knit therefore I am.
02:24 PM on 06/18/2010
I'm sorry 36 comp tickets! Are you kidding me! Holy crap.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Denemator
Has the world gone nuts?
06:34 PM on 06/19/2010
Sorry dude they were really Dutch
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
DevonTexas
Eternal Optimism
09:13 AM on 06/18/2010
If they allow those annoying horns, they can just about allow anything short of physical injury!
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
karen1p
03:38 AM on 06/18/2010
How stupid am I? I have no idea what they are marketing other than dresses not fit for the catwalk.
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
temenos
castigat ridendo mores
02:28 AM on 06/18/2010
Ambush marketing is only allowed when the big and powerful corporations do it as with product placement in films.
03:47 AM on 06/18/2010
Product placement is intentionally put in and paid for. How is that ambush marketing?
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
temenos
castigat ridendo mores
11:08 AM on 06/18/2010
It's ambush marketing to the viewer of the film who pays to see a product free of advertising. Product placement is a vile and cynical exploitation of a medium which is already making huge profits.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Deli
Life after death, why wait?
01:13 AM on 06/18/2010
This was not ambush marketing, it was the first annual Tiger Woods Mistress Reunion.
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Sunflo
Leave a mark, not a stain.
05:10 AM on 06/18/2010
Reunion? Where had they gone?