巴西總統盧拉對足球的熱愛是世界其他領導人所不能比的。

　　這位鐵杆兒球迷經常在自己的講話中以足球作比，他還常常同部長大臣們玩五人足球，但與球員、教練或俱樂部主席探討足球則是這位總統的最愛了。

　　他在國內與貝利爭論3-5-2與4-4-2的各自優勢的次數明顯多於他同布萊爾或布什 討論伊拉克的戰爭問題。這在國際政治家中實為罕見。

　　這就不奇怪為什麼上周他會安排一次於巴西隊的現場視頻連接了。而這位盧拉總統總會在不適宜的時候説出欠妥當的話。

　　自2003年上任以來，他經常叫錯官員的名字，無意間連續指責美國人自私，曾經有一次到納米比亞Namibians訪問，他説這裡太乾淨了，都不敢相信這是在非洲了。

　　上周，他問巴西隊主教練佩雷拉，羅納爾多是不是真的很胖，這一問題引起了巴西隊內部一陣騷動。

　　“我只是偶爾能見到羅納爾多 ，我知道他較瘦，”在視頻會議中盧拉對佩雷拉 説，“但經常在巴西媒體中看到説羅納爾多胖。那他到底胖不胖呢？”

　　“他很強壯，總統先生”善於辭令的教練佩雷拉回答道。隨後他又補充道，他比94年世界盃時強壯了很多。

　　巴西隊隊員嚴格的命令，不得向總統提問或是同總統討論問題。因此，羅納爾多的憤怒在第二天才爆發出來。

　　在訓練結束後同記者的談話中，這位球星明顯帶著憤憤之色“大家都説他（盧拉總統）總在喝酒。這肯定不是真的。正如説我胖也是個謊言一樣。”

　　兩年前，紐約時報發表文章指責盧拉過度飲用

　　巴西朗姆酒，

　　盧拉想早些擺平與羅納爾多的是是非非，稱這只是個誤會，並向這位皇家馬德里前鋒發去傳真表示歉意。

　　這位60歲的總統十分溺愛羅納爾多。他甚至説他把羅納爾多當作自己的兒子。據報道，因為自己的話讓羅納爾多感到生氣，他感到不安。一向與總統關係較好的羅納爾多欣然接受道歉並宣佈事情結束了。

　　鏈結： http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=370816&root=worldcup&cc=4716

　　原文： Weighty issues best avoidedAndrew Downie

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　　RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil - Few world leaders love football as much as Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

　　DavidCannon/GettyImages

　　Ronaldo: Certainly not the sylph-like figure of yesteryear.The die-hard Corinthians fan peppers his speeches with footballing analogies, plays five-a-side games with his ministers, and enjoys nothing more than discussing the games finer points with players, managers and club chairmen.

　　He is one of the few international statesman who is more at home debating the respective merits of 3-5-2 and 4-4-2 with Pele than discussing the war in Iraq with Tony Blair or George W. Bush.

　　So it was no surprise when he arranged for a live video link up with the Brazil squad from their base in Konigstein last week. And no shock that he put his foot in it. For another thing Lula is famous for is saying the wrong thing at the wrong time.

　　Since taking power in 2003 Lula has called foreign dignitaries by their wrong names, unwittingly accused the US of serial selfishness and once told Namibians he couldn't believe he was in Africa because their country was so clean.

　　Last week he caused a furor by asking Brazil manager Carlos Alberto Parreira if Ronaldo really was fat.

　　'I meet up with Ronaldo now and then and I know he's thin,' Lula said to Parreira during the conference call. 'But every so often we read in the Brazilian press that Ronaldo is fat. So, is he fat or isn't he fat?'

　　'He's very strong, president,' a characteristically diplomatic Parreira responded, before adding that Ronaldo was no longer the skinny kid he called up as a reserve for the 1994 World Cup.

　　The Brazilian players were under strict orders not to ask Lula any questions or enter into any discussions with him and so Ronaldo's ire only became apparent the next day.

　　In conversations with reporters after training, the obviously irritated star, said: 'Everyone says he (Lula) drinks all the time. Just as it's a lie that I am fat, it must be a lie that he drinks too much.'

　　Two years ago, the New York Times published a story acusing Lula of overdoing the cachaca, the potent cane spirit that is Brazil's most popular drink (and the main ingredient of the caipirinha).

　　The story caused an international incident and angered Lula so much that he tried to expel the reporter who wrote the story. Lula's drinking habits have been a topic of conversation ever since.

　　Lula tried to downplay last week's back-and-forward with Ronaldo as a misunderstanding and sent a fax to the Real Madrid striker apologising for any bad feelings.

　　“ Everyone says he (Lula) drinks all the time. Just as it's a lie that I am fat, it must be a lie that he drinks too much. ”

　　— Ronaldo on Lula

　　The 60-year old president dotes on Ronaldo - he even said he thinks of him as a son - and he was reported to be upset at having upset him. Ronaldo, who has always had a good relationship with the president, graciously accepted the apology and declared the matter closed.

　　作者-丁曉晨 北京二外 英語系

責編：盧爽