Vlad the Fox

The ****ing competition is bent as ****

Feels like a proper world cup match in a proper football stadium.

I’m just hoping it holds off enough to get down the pub, tried to get the wife and daughter out without telling them it was delayed but my daughter saw it so they’re grabbing another hours Kip

**** fifa FIFA wants you to ‘relax and chill’. But ordered a World Cup bong be destroyed Amy Lawrence Of all the regulations FIFA have imposed for this World Cup, the most psychedelic concerns a clampdown on suppliers of cannabis goods in Toronto. Unfortunately, when Gianni Infantino suggested on the eve of the tournament that people just “relax and chill”, that invitation was not extended to those who would naturally gravitate to doing exactly that. The owners of Cosmic Charlie’s, brothers Sean and Charlie Kady, have had an experience they could not have imagined when they first spotted a bong shaped like the World Cup trophy at their wholesalers. What started as a fun way to get into the tournament spirit took an unexpected turn when they were served with legal papers from FIFA’s lawyers last Friday and ordered to cease and desist trading in the offending apparatus. “It has come to our client’s attention that you are advertising, offering for sale and/or selling products bearing the FIFA trademarks,” the legal letter from law firm Lipkus Law, representing FIFA in Canada, said, as per Reuters. It was a scary five-page document and the Kady brothers were aware that they did not have the clout to take that particular battle on. “We took a hammer to it this morning and a pair of scissors, and sent the attorney proof that it was ‘unusable and unsellable’, which was the official terminology,” Sean explained to The Athletic. “Unfortunately it’s RIP World Cup trophy bong, that one won’t get smoked out of.” Charlie and Sean Kady in their shop Cosmic Charlie’s, temporary home of the fateful bongPhoto: Amy Lawrence The recreational use and sale of cannabis was legalized in Canada in 2018 and the brothers opened Cosmic Charlie’s five years ago. Charlie used to be a banker, and Sean was in sales, but after the pandemic they wanted a new way of life, working independently and as a family. They are warm-hearted, easy-going people, and don’t come across as the kind of villains FIFA would have in their sights. Cosmic Charlie’s flagship location is in one of the most eclectic neighbourhoods of downtown Toronto. Once through the entrance, with its corrugated iron walls and and funky purple mirror, inside anything you might require for a natural high is neatly laid out. The World Cup bong, prior to its demise, was on display on top of the glass cabinet in the middle of the store. “The sacred golden trophy…” Charlie says dreamily. “We didn’t really investigate too deeply about trademarks and thought it was a good way to lean into the fun, and thought we would get some nice conversations with fans in the store.” Reuters / Divya Rajagopal The brothers are fans, and typically for Toronto they have roots in different cultures and countries. “We have a very diverse background, with family in Spain, Argentina, England and France, so growing up World Cups were always heated,” Sean says. Charlie is in the store in a Spain jersey, the day of their mind-bending 0-0 draw with Cape Verde. The Kadys are positive thinkers, so don’t want this brush with FIFA regulations to spoil their tournament. “I wish there were more games here,” says Sean. “It has been cool to see the city build around it, we are great hosts. More languages are spoken here than anywhere in the world which creates an open mindedness. We have amazing food and a great diversity of people, and a welcome so that when you ask someone for things to do they are always happy to showcase the good things about living here.” So, the show at Cosmic Charlie’s goes on, albeit without the showpiece bong in all its glory, although it will live on in the store’s folklore. “I was going to make a memorial,” Sean ponders, “So maybe a picture of the broken bong and a red card from FIFA make it into that.” FIFA was approached for comment.

We had a change of plan so last night the Mrs changed our scheduled delivery for this morning 8=9 to this evening 8-9. We were just about to go out this morning when we received a message saying it was on the way. She’d fell sleep on her phone before finishing.

England could be 7pm Sunday, woo hoo.

Martin should sign a captain, like Pearson did with Morgan. Someone not tainted with the sh1t show of the last few seasons.

And his own back room team.

There’s no way Haiti will win 21-0.

I also heard, think it was the football ramble, where the ref one game had to wait for notification the adds had finished before he could blow to restart the match. They should get the fourth official to bring the drinks on to the centre circle, for the players, quick slurp and get on with it.

Yeah, this is what I’ve said, or have the fourth official bring on the bottles in a crate or even get some random drive them on in a golf buggy. Better still not have them Unless the temperature is extreme.

Positive thread 8 pages vs negative thread 2 pages. Nuff said

Agree. Didn’t want him but the clowns running the club have now got to get behind him and let him bring his own team in to give him every opportunity to succeed.

I think some of the most entertaining foaming I’ve seen was when the bbc announced the new Doctor was going to be a women.

They’ll be bringing a mug of Bovril out to them. Got to keep them warm.

Maybe Russell has changed his philosophy and is about to make a "ladies and gentleman, we will be playing 4 4 fvcking 2" statement in his next interview.

Agree, can still remember how the media, commentators and pundits got excited by an average Brazil side making them favourites in 2014, the way Germany took them apart in the semi final stuffing them 7-1 was a thing of beauty.

Poor keeping.

And once the ref has blown his whistle after 1 second everyone can rush the penalty taker.

I’d give them him if they’ll take winks and vesty

Dabbled with eggs

You’ll face harder tackles at u8’s and not go down.

I wish they’d stop giving these penalties, just because there’s contact doesn’t mean it’s a pen, wasn’t enough to send him down and as you say was already on his way.

At times we’ve played some of the best football I’ve seen this tournament so far.

Shackles were off there for a period, much better