Charges dropped against 2 Dutch women in Word Cup ‘ambush marketing’ case

Charges dropped against 2 Dutch women in WCup case

JOHANNESBURG — Charges have been dropped against two Dutch women who had faced prosecution for allegedly taking part in an ambush marketing campaign at a World Cup match in Johannesburg.

They were among a group of more than 30 Dutch women who attended last week’s Netherlands-Denmark game at Soccer City wearing orange minidresses paid for by brewing company Bavaria. They had faced charges under an act covers that ambush marketing, when a company benefits from an event without paying for advertising.

On Tuesday, the two women appeared briefly in Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court, and were told by a prosecutor that all charges had been dropped. A court spokesman said there had been a settlement, but did not give details.