Hook Norton withdraws FIFA-baiting World Cup beer

Oxfordshire brewer Hook Norton is withdrawing a seasonal World Cup beer from sale after it landed them in hot water with FIFA.

The company's limited edition Striker ale attracted the attention of football's governing body for using the strapline on the pumpclip "Brewed to celebrate the FIFA World Cup 2010".

FIFA is understood to be taking an aggressive stance with such 'transgressions', as official World Cup brands pay vast sums of money to be associated with the tournament.

FIFA said its legal team were dealing with a "report" on Hook Norton and will take "appropriate action".

However Hook Norton managing director James Clarke said the company had still had no communication from FIFA.

He confirmed the beer is being taken off the bars of its pubs, but said the company was "not admitting to anything".

"We are quite distraught that such as oversight has caused such a stir," he said. "We've only sold 12 firkins of it."

Clarke said it was planning to give any profits made from the beer to Leukaemia Research, Hook Norton's charity of choice, or a charity chosen by FIFA.