Almanack: Swiss score twice
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.TO THE delight of continental tabloids, the Swiss football team's coach Roy Hodgson has relaxed the sex ban on his players for the World Cup finals. But his players and their wives and girlfriends are only in a state of modified rapture: they will be allowed two brief conjugal visits: on 18 June after the team's match against the United States, and on 26 June after their game against Colombia.
'Roy's Boys Can Do It Twice,' triumphed a headline in Blick, which had criticised the celibacy order. The original ban had produced such classics as 'No Sex Please, We're Swiss', and 'No Sex Please, The Manager's British'.
The debate over sex and sport is years old and will probably never be resolved. Some killjoy pundits insist that sex saps the energy and should be discouraged during important tournaments; others claim that satiated footballers play better.
Pele said recently that late nights and lack of sleep were to blame for poor performance rather than sex; George Best always claimed that pre-match indulgence was harmless. Italy's former head coach, Azeglio Vicini, tried to enforce abstinence on his players in 1990. Arrigo Sacchi, Vicini's successor, is looking to improve on their third-place finish: he is not considering a similar ban this year.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments