The World Cup – in Prison
Inmates at the Klong Prem Central Prison will kick off an alternative World Cup football tournament today. The tournament, known as the World Cup 2010 Behind Bars, is being held in parallel with, but one day before, the official Fifa World Cup final in South Africa which begins tomorrow. Story from the Bangkok Post. More pictures at CNN.
The event is a collaboration of the Corrections Department, the Football Association of Thailand, the Sports Authority of Thailand and the Tourism and Sports Ministry.
Two similar tournaments were successfully held at Klong Prem prison in 2002 and 2006. Sixteen teams made up of inmates from various countries will contest this year’s tournament. Each team is made up of seven players.
Today’s opening match will see inmates from South Africa take on Mexico, followed by France v Uruguay.
Tomorrow, South Africa will kick off the official World Cup against Mexico with France and Uruguay facing off later in the day.
The prison tournament will start again on June 25, one day before the second round of 16 qualified teams in the World Cup in South Africa begins.
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