By Ben Nicholson
July 4 – Whilst head coach Jurgen Klinsmann wrote the USA a ‘sick-note’ urging employers to allow fans to watch their world cup game, Colombian government workers have been afforded the luxury minus the paperwork by their own President.
Juan Manuel Santos declared July 4 a “civic day”, starting at 1pm local time, so that government workers can watch their team take on Brazil in their first ever World Cup quarter final. His Vice-President, Angelino Garzon, took to Twitter to urge local governments to extend the same gratuity to their employees.
Only “special services”, meaning health and security, will be necessarily detained at work.
Making a public holiday out of the game is hoped to combat the recent celebration-related accidents that have occurred in Colombia.
A reported 10 people died as a result of celebrations after Colombia’s opening win against Greece. Some local governments, such as in Bogota, imposed alcohol sale bans, prohibited motorcycle use and set curfews for minors so as to minimise the chance of the events recurring.
In Colombia’s following victory over Ivory Coast there were minor outbreaks of rioting, resulting in damage to shopping centres, injuries to three police officers and arrests of 30 youths. A further two celebration-related deaths occurred after this game, and this tragic head count was added to by a further death when Colombia overcame Japan in their final group game.
The disgruntled businessmen, who were unhappy to have their opportunity to capitalise on the euphoria with increased sales of alcohol halted by legal bans, may be some of the few still working. Employer discretion will rule whether economic concerns trump the romanticism of watching their national team battling against the odds.
The President is planning on enjoying the public holiday by attending the game in person, confidently stating that he will “come back on the same day, after we win.”
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