Fifa orders Kulula to withdraw advert

Mar 19, 2010 9:44 AM By Sapa

Fifa has ordered budget airline Kulula to withdraw an advert that says it is the "Unofficial National Carrier of the You-Know-What", according to a Johannesburg newspaper report.

We've signed over our country, its symbols and our economy to one Sepp Blatter.

The airline announced on networking site Twitter: "Oh dear, letter from Fifa's lawyers says we broke their trademark of the use of 'South Africa' and think our non-WC ad was about soccer...

...

"Even the use of our national flag was an issue. It's absolutely outrageous. We've signed over our country, its symbols and our economy to one Sepp Blatter. Nasty."

Officially, the airline said it was "surprised" to receive a letter from the world football body demanding it withdraw the adverts, reports The Star newspaper.

"They said we cannot depict the Cape Town stadium, we can't use soccer balls, or the word 'South Africa', and the depiction of the national flag is not allowed," said marketing manager Nadine Damen.

"We can't make any reference to the World Cup. They also told us we cannot use the vuvuzela, which, in our view, is representative of the people of South Africa and their love of football."