Knife-Proof Vest for SA 2010 Fans?

The company's name is Protektorvest, and what it will sell you is a knife-proof vest for $69.95.

And it is getting a lot of attention, both positive and negative in South Africa, host of the 2010 World Cup.

The firm selling the vests appears to be South African, too.

One school of thought is, "If anyone knows what kind of protection you need in South Africa, wouldn't it be a South African firm?

And the second is, "This is someone hoping to take advantage of irrational fears from First World fans."

Anyway, it's getting a lot of notice. Including in the Daily Mirror of England.

Here is the link to the story about the vest.

Returning to the on-one-hand, on-the-other frame of mind ...

South Africa is a dangerous place. We have established that. Maybe not dangerous in an Angola sort of "organized rebel group" way, but in a "50 murder nationwide daily" way.

Sascha Cotura, co-founder of the company, says, "Of course people think it is crazy, but South Africa is is famous for knife crime."

Ao, a knife-proof vest? Maybe it's not that crazy.

And to spiff up the whole sale, you can get your knife-proof "Protektorvest" in your nation's colors.

Meanwhile, the Football Supports Federation of England is suggesting the knife-proof vest is is unnecessary and a fear-mongering concept. Said FSF spokesman Michael Clarke: "This will just panic people and introduce a degree of tension. They are not exactly going to endear fans to the host nation and we would advise them not to buy these things."

Anyway, if you're thinking of going and you want some sort of protection from a stabbing, here is the link to the Protektorvest company site.

The company co-founder says he's just offering a service. ''I can imagine that the organizers of the World Cup say it is safe, but fans want to do what they can," Cotura said. "Football fans can get into trouble. They can be drunk and rowdy unlike in other sports, so they can have problems. If they approach situations with the wrong attitude it could go horribly wrong."

Hmm. Hard to argue with that.