All charges against Barbara and Mirte have been dropped and they got their passports back.

A last minute deal between Bavaria and FIFA (details have not been disclosed) obviously was reason enough for the South African authorities to drop all charges. The role of the Dutch government isn’t completely clear but there are indications that some pressure have been put on the SA government to let the Bavaria Babes go free.

A better proof that FIFA dictates the rules, including the decision if people who break the (FIFA) law are being persecuted or not. Money rules…

The two Dutch women who were arrested and are free on bail pending the court case on June 22, released the following statement:

We send this statement because we want to have a low press profile from now on to support our case here in South Africa. You can use this to let the world know that we are OK.

What has started as a nice trip to the World Cup turned into a large scale intimidation by the FiFa and we were held and interrogated for four hours in freezing conditions after the game. Two days later we were taken from our bed on Wednesday morning and were told that we have been accused of acting like criminals in theSoccerCitystadium. Our passports were taken and we have to appear in the South African court on June 22nd.

You really do not understand what is happening, especially when the FiFa officials keep telling you that there is a 6 month jail hanging over your head. The first days we were really in a shock. We were told not to run because we would get shot!

But, Bavaria has helped us to choose the best lawyers and we really feel supported by Bavaria. We get lots of phone calls and support from friends and family and the world simply looks better now. We really believe in the good outcome. We think this will all be over soon, can you imagine really going to jail for wearing an orange dress ? What about all supporters in shirts with brand names that are not sponsor of the FiFa? Are they taken to prison as well ? The World Cup party is definitely not a party anymore for us. We like to watch the matches in an orange dress from home, let’s hope we can do that as soon as possible….Fingers crossed !

Barbara and Mirte, Johannesburg June 16

We at BavarariaBabes.com support Barbara and Mirte and appeal on the South African officials to let the girls go home. If FIFA has a problem with Bavaria, let them fight it out in a civil case. Criminalizing the Bavaria Babes is ridiculous!

According to the changed law the Bavaria Babes can face up to six months in jail.

Shops and fast food restaurants close to the Stadiums have been closed because only the products of the “official” sponsors should be sold.

This is going way too far, way too far! O.K. we understand that big events like this can’t exist without sponsors but having a law changed to prevent people wearing clothes with wrong logo is just not right!

So, what is the problem of those FIFA big shots and the South African police and DA?

Here it is:

Yup, that’s right, a hardly readable 1″ label. That’s what all the fuss is about.

In a press release the Bavaria brewery said:

There is no way FIFA can hold these ladies responsible for their attendance at the match in their Dutch Dresses, in Soccer City, and Bavaria is currently doing everything in its power to assist the arrested women. Bavaria has arranged all legal assistance and housing for them, and keeps close contact with their families. Bavaria will ask FIFA to immediately stop what it feels is the intimidation of Dutch-Dressed female supporters.

If FIFA has any problems with our company, we would like to ask them to contact us directly, and not take action against innocent people wearing our orange dress. Until now, Bavaria has not heard anything from FIFA directly. The World Cup tournament should be an enjoyable event for all supporters, male and female, regardless of their outfits.

We sure hope that the South African DA officials will have more common sense than the Police and the FIFA big shots.

The Bavaria Babes are being accused of developing commercial activities in a soccer stadium.

Dutch foreign minister Maxime Verhagen wrote on his Twitter blog that in his opinion detainment because of wearing orange dresses is crazy. The Dutch Government is requesting explanation about this case from the South African government.

The Dutch government is trying to get information from the South African authorities.

On of the Dutch women sent an SMS to a Dutch newspaper to report their arrest.

We think that this is getting out of hand. FIFA and the South African police are losing it. Allegedly there are no visible logos on the orange dresses. It’s just that “everybody” knows that they are from Bavaria. Well, we’re no lawyers but it looks like FIFA is going to have a difficult case. Right now they are just trying to intimidate the Bavaria Babes and the South African police are co-operating. (Isn’t there any  real police work for them to do?)

Let them try to sue Bavaria if they really have to do something but they should leave the Bavaria Babes in peace!

In the mean time, Sylvie van der Vaart, the wife of Dutch soccer player Rafael van der Vaart, said that the Bavaria Babes should go on attending the Dutch team matches wearing  their orange dresses.

Sylivie showing the Dutch Dress

During the first game of the Dutch team in the world championships in South Africa, a group of “Bavaria Babes” wearing orange dresses have been removed from the stadium and interrogated for hours.

They were told that their “ambush marketing campaign” was illegal (??) and they were told that they might go to jail for up to 6 months.

Dutch ‘beer babes’ held at W.Cup stadium

The “Dutch Dresses” don’t have any logo but in the mean time everybody knows that they were issued by Bavaria.

Here’s a Youtube video of the girls at Monday’s game: