Swiss sponsors see red over blue team poster

BAD BERTRICH, Germany, June 9 (Reuters) The sponsors of Switzerland's World Cup side have been forced to destroy a giant mosaic poster of the team after two naked photos were spotted in the picture.

As they left Switzerland for Germany yesterday, the Swiss team posed in front of the 7x10-metre-poster, created by the Credit Suisse bank out of 30,000 individual snapshots sent in by supporters.

Today, Swiss tabloid newspaper Blick published a blown-up section of the poster revealing a pair of female breasts and a hardcore pornographic image, both on the face of Swiss defender Philipp Degen.

''It is very embarrassing and also irritating that there are always some people who try to abuse the friendly actions of others,'' Credit Suisse sponsoring spokeswoman Jolanda van de Graf told Reuters today.

''I have spoken personally to Philipp Degen and told him that the banners were being destroyed. I think he was a bit surprised by it all, but he told us that the matter was now finished as far as he is concerned.'' The 7x10 metre poster was originally set to go on display at Switzerland's training camp in Germany.

Four smaller banners, due to be shown in the Swiss cities of Zurich, Bern and Geneva, will be reprinted with the offending photos removed.

REUTERS PDS KN2139