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04. 02. 10. - 13:00

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04. 02. 10. - 13:00

Footie fans' anger over road toll stickers' colour

Rapid Vienna fans have said they will drive with motorway toll stickers the wrong way up on their car windscreens in protest over the stickers’ colours being the same as their fiercest rivals.

Thousands of Rapid supporters have agreed on social network platforms like Facebook to show their disapproval with the 2010 "Vignette" stickers’ design by sticking them the wrong way round on the windscreens of their cars.

Fans of the table-topping Bundesliga side have complained the lilac colouring of the sticker – mandatory for all motorists on expressways and motorways across Austria – resembles the purple strip of city rivals Austria Vienna.

"Vignette" stickers were introduced in 1997 and this year’s model became obligatory on Monday (1 February). The 12-month model costs 76.20 Euros, 3.60 Euros more than the 2009 version.

This year’s lilac version preceded last year’s lime green, while the 2005 model was mint green and the 2000 in simple green.

Supporters of the "Green-Whites" believe their protest will be joined by thousands of drivers since Rapid Vienna are the most popular Austrian football club.

The news comes after fans’ outcry over Vienna-based fashion house Tlapa’s decision to outfit the club’s players with suits, shirts and ties from their March 2009 collection - dominated by purple.

Tlapa spokesman Norbert Disper said: "Purple is the colour of the season – and I would say the collection’s tone is lavender."

Players modelling the outfits for a photo shoot were less worried than their resolute fans.

Stefan Maierhofer, who measures 202 centimetres, said: "That the trousers are long enough is all that matters to me."

The striker has however left the Austrian champions in the meantime to join English Premiership side Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Austrian Times

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