Blocking local artists from participating was silly but stopping the open distribution of condoms is insane. Please tell me this is all a massive misunderstanding. The situation in South Africa is bad enough without a bunch of idiots from Fifa contributing to one of the most serious AIDS problems in the world.
Aids groups in South Africa have accused Fifa of banning the distribution of condoms at World Cup stadiums and other venues.
The Aids Consortium and other groups also criticised a block on the distribution of safe sex information at stadiums and fan parks, even though alcohol can be advertised.
South Africa has the world's largest number of HIV carriers, with an estimated 5.7 million people infected – about one in every five adults. There are around 1,400 new HIV infections every day and nearly 1,000 Aids deaths.
This has prompted calls for a health initiative to prevent the virus spreading as hundreds of thousands of football fans pour into the country for the World Cup, which starts next Friday.
