Footballers don't sing when they're chewing

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's national soccer team, caught on camera chewing gum during opening ceremonies, has been told by President Vladimir Putin to quit their habit and start singing the national anthem.


Popular tabloid Zhizn said Putin called Russian Olympic chief Leonid Tyagachyov, who passed on the message to soccer officials after Russia's loss to Spain last month in Euro 2004.


"I told the lads to take their national anthem more seriously," Russian soccer chief Vyacheslav Koloskov told the paper. "Other teams not only sing, they have expressions on their faces that straight away make it clear they are prepared to do everything to beat the opposition.


"And ours? They chew gum and smile."


Gennady Shvets, the Russian Olympic Committee's press chief, said he knew of no Kremlin phone call to Tyagachyov, but was aware of general displeasure at the players' behaviour.


"I am sure the proper reaction from the president would have been to say that the team should be playing better and spending less time on silly distractions," he said by telephone. "The best present for fans would be a better game."


A Kremlin spokesman had no comment on the newspaper report.


Officials have repeatedly tried to persuade the team to sing the anthem, restored to its Soviet-era version in 2001 with new words. Players were handed song sheets for the 2002 World Cup.