Late Monday night, an anonymous member of Heathen Front leaked to us tentative plans by some members to blatantly oppose the Gregisgodistani regime while in Esportiva for a World Cup Qualifying match next month. The leaked plans range from a series of flash-and-scatter anti-Greg protests to distributing flash drives containing "anti-propaganda" in Lord Almighty Gregory National Stadium and even more outlandish propositions like helping some disaffected locals escape back to Cosumar.
This morning, the Fiefdom Soccer Federation quickly issued a response, urging fans traveling to Gregisgodistan not to engage in any behavior that could be considered subversive by the dictatorial regime.
"The FSF is proud of the traveling support our senior national team receives wherever they go across the Multiverse, and we would certainly love to have a big crowd to cheer us on in Gregoryisgodistan for a very important match," Navarro said. "However, we always advise Cosumarite citizens to respect and abide by the local laws while supporting the team. This is especially the case in Gregoryisgodistan, where the many laws - however difficult they are to fathom from our own cultural perspective - are strictly enforced. Please take caution, everybody, and consider carefully the consequences of your actions."
Navarro is referring to this infamous list of crimes punishable by death in Gregisgodistan, which range from implying that Greg is not a deity to criticizing the state to eating coconuts. While foreigners have traditionally been afforded some leniency, outright attempts to spark rebellion will surely be met with without mercy.
The Heathen Front is among the most diehard of Cosumar National Team supporters' groups, known for its anti-religious and political bent. In World Cup 69, they partially provoked an ugly scene in the Dreamed Realm befre an away match against The Archregimancy. Several members openly expressed atheistic beliefs to monks and subsequently found themselves (and their team) being booed, shouted at, spat at and condemned to hell throughout the match. The Heathen Front has also made many positive contributions to Cosumar Soccer, however. They created the now-famous Onwards, Vanquishers! song during World Cup 72 and helped codify the Vanquishers nickname in the process. Still today, the voices from their section can be heard amongst the loudest in any stadium.
The outspoken Heathen Front attends every Cosumar match, but has never attempted to get directly involved in the politics of nations to which they travel. FSF President Tomas Navarro issued a grave warning to members who may be plotting to make it a first in Gregisgodistan.
"If true, these reports are highly disturbing. Cosumarite civilians should never defy states in which they are but a guest, especially one that has demonstrated such ruthlessness," Navarro continued. "The FSF would like to publicly denounce any plans, from the Heathen Front or others, to stir up conflict in Gregoryisgodistan. We do not endorse the dictatorial methods of Lord Gregory, but our first duty is to protect our own innocent fans who could be put at risk by these reckless endeavors."
Others, particularly on online comment boards, have expressed sympathy and even outright support for the leaked plans, though it is not yet clear if the plans are legitimate or - if they are - if Heathen Front still intends to proceed with them against the FSF's instructions.
"I'm not gonna go to that country, I can't risk it - I'm a single dad with two daughters. What's being rumored is...bold. Maybe crazy. It's ordinary people! But I can't say I disagree with the efforts." - Axel De Rew, a 4th-grade teacher in Ramusok
"The egregious brainwashing, vile vindictiveness and callous oppression of the masses perpetrated by Lord Gregory on a daily basis is incompatible with who we are as Cosumarites," said an anonymous Heathen Front member in a voicemail. "Those who have the opportunity to do something while there, even if it's just to slip some poor peasant a science book, have a moral obligation to do so."
"It's about time someone stood up to those bullies. The international community has turned away from it for too long. And I'm only saying that partially because those fucking Foot Slaves are ahead of us in Qualifying!" - Sheila Pendergast, a bartender in Azuris
In Group 11, Gregoryisgodistan do currently sit two points ahead of Cosumar in the Qualifying table. Cosumar suffered a shock 1-1 draw to Hicanans In Exile at home earlier in the week, allowing the Foot Slaves to finally break the longstanding deadlock at the top.
The top two finishers will advance to the World Cup, but finishing behind a team consisting largely of prune farmers, slaves and police officers would be a serious blow to Cosumarite pride.
Tonight the Vanquishers play in the much more tourist-friendly 95X, where they recently played the AOCAF. Though a distant 3rd behind Gregoryisgodistan and Cosumar, 95X could close the gap with a win tonight. They are widely considered the third-best team in the group and should give Peter Svensson & Company a tough test with the backing of Pacific City.
