‘Black magic’ has US up in arms

A Mexican newspaper’s fun campaign inviting home fans to prick voodoo dolls and cast a curse on the United States ahead of next month’s World Cup qualifier, lost its US-based sponsor.

A Mexican newspaper’s fun campaign inviting home fans to prick voodoo dolls and cast a curse on the United States ahead of next month’s World Cup qualifier, lost its US-based sponsor on Wednesday.

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US electronics chain RadioShack withdrew as a distribution outlet for the sports daily Record’s venture, which included 10,000 dolls.

“In their desire to support their national team in the World Cup, our recently acquired operation in Mexico was interested in participating in a promotion created by the Record,” RadioShack said in a statement. “Upon notification of our potential involvement, RadioShack Corporation has decided not to participate.”

Record marketing manager Daniel Paz said: “It surprises us.” Paz reiterated that the campaign was intended as a “novel and fun” way of elevating the profile of next month’s rivalry game, and there was no ill will behind it.

He said the promotion will continue, and the paper was in talks with businesses interested in taking over as distribution centres. Mexico has not beaten the U.S. on American soil in 10 years, so on Tuesday the Record began publishing coupons for fans to clip and redeem for a voodoo-doll likeness of a U.S. player.