England WAGs criticised over 'disgusting' £9,000 goody bag
England players' wives and girlfriends have come under fire, after it was claimed that some will receive £9,000 worth of jewellery, clothes and holidays for attending a celebrity cocktail party in Pretoria on Friday.
South African cosmetics firm Optiphi has said four England WAGs were expected to attend their promotional event, including Emily Heskey’s fiancée Chantelle Tagoe, Michael Carrick’s wife Lisa, and Matthew Upson’s girlfriend Ellie Darby.
The four guests to the event, which features a fashion show by Sex And The City dress designer Eric Way, will be given an exclusive goody bag featuring designer jewellery, clothing and holidays.
Details of the party have emerged just days after Emile Heskey's fiancée, Miss Tagoe visited an orphanage on the outskirts of Cape Town.
Both Miss Tagoe and Matthew Upson's girlfriend Miss Darby also appeared in a BBC 3 documentary which saw them visit some of South Africa's poorest neighbourhoods to care for children infected by HIV.
An anti-poverty charity who work with some of South Africa's poorest people has labelled the free gifts as "disgusting".
Ruth Tanner, campaigns director at War on Want told the Daily Mail: "It would be disgusting for the WAGs to accept these gifts as millions of South Africans face dire poverty.
"It’s a disgrace for the firm involved to give unneeded luxury gifts to the WAGs. This company should be ashamed of itself.
"We hope the WAGs decline these publicity handouts when this money could be put to better use."
An Optiphi spokeswoman claimed that four England players' partners were due to attend Friday's event.
She said: "We want to show the hospitality of South Africa towards England. So each England players’ partner will receive goody bags with items to the value of 100,000 Rand (£9,000) at our cocktail evening.
"They will each receive products from the sponsors including designer clothing, shoes, a safari and skincare products.
"Four England players’ partners will receive the gifts, although we have not finalised which partners will receive them as yet.
"We’re hosting a charity event and auction, will funds raised going to the Hear For Life 94.7 charity, which helps deaf children receive cochlear implants to regain hearing."
More England players' partners are due to arrive in South Africa over the coming days, despite concerns from England manager Fabio Capello that they could distract the team.
Glen Johnson's wife Laura was in Cape Town for England's draw with Algeria, while Steven Gerrard’s wife Alex Curran, Joe Cole’s wife Carly and Peter Crouch's girlfriend Abbey Clancy are set to arrive in the coming days.
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