[Intl-tobacco] Malaysia: World Cup Tobacco Ads Draw Protests

[Robert Weissman]

World Cup Tobacco Ads Draw Protests
Source: AP, 2002-05-14, via tobacco.org
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20020514/ap_on_sp_so_ne/soc_wcup_tobacco_sponsor_1

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) - 
A leading Malaysian consumer group on Tuesday urged FIFA President
Sepp Blatter to stop the Malaysian arm of an international tobacco
company from sponsoring World Cup telecasts.

The Consumers Association of Penang said in a letter to Blatter
that British American Tobacco Malaysia's sponsorship of local World
Cup broadcasts through its Dunhill brand flouted FIFA's
tobacco-free policy and jeopardized efforts by the World Health
Organization to curb smoking.

"We register our outrage that FIFA has not acted to stop the
association of tobacco with soccer," said Mohamed Idris, the
consumer group's president. "Your inaction has resulted in
Malaysians being confused over (the) WHO's important anti-smoking
messages."

FIFA has signed an agreement with the WHO to bar cigarette
promotion and smoking in the stadiums during the May 31-June 30
World Cup games in Japan and South Korea.