Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Football: Jungle alert for missing Kommissar

The Gaffer Tapes

Saturday 31 January 1998 00:02 GMT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

THE GAFFER

TAPES

Football: USA take on Cuba on home soil for first time

News item

Barry Gaffer, Sludgethorpe Brazil's self-styled Football Kommissar, is missing, feared dead, in the jungles of Central America.

Sir Hirem Firem, the club chairman, last night admitted the club were "very concerned" about the fate of their manager. The 54-year-old Gaffer has not been in touch with the club since he flew to Central America in an attempt to solve Brazil's striker crisis by signing charismatic striker Che Revolta.

Revolta, who plays for Cicasaparrat Juniors deep in the area's troubled region, is seen as the right man to replace the former hard-man Brian Heckinbottom, who has gone soft since he went Awol in the Indian hippy beach resort of Goa.

Revolta, who has shot two referees, three opponents and four taxi drivers in his controversial career, scored his third hat-trick of the season at the weekend.

It is thought Gaffer, who has been unable to lift Brazil from the bottom of the Premiership since replacing former manager Big Mick Sheepskin in September, was at the match but has not been since since leaving the ground in the boot of a large car driven by three men with dark glasses and ponchos.

In another development, Heckinbottom announced he is to become a candidate for the Natural Law Party in the European elections. Among his more unusual proposals is that goals are to be banned in football matches as the concepts of winning and losing promote.

With Broccoli Moore still in jail after assaulting a police officer's house with a Christmas Tree, Heckinbottom has been replaced in today's side by Herman Mann. The 17-year-old is the son of assistant manager Kit Mann who has taken over running Sludgethorpe in Gaffer's absence. Ivor Niggle (bunions) and Shaun Prone (headache) are out.

Sludgethorpe Brazil: Panic; Blow, Phace, Off; Ganja, Rasta, Spice, Smith; Massive, Mann, Unstartz.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in