The Daily Star, a British tabloid, claimed to be scared that black magic might influence England's 2006 June 15 World Cup fixture with Trinidad and Tobago and it was not referring to the "Little Magician", Russell Latapy.
The Star's front page read "Witch docs put hex on Becks" while the "exclusive" story claimed that Trinidad and Tobago "voodoo witch doctors" were using magic incantations to derail England's chances of success in Germany this June.
"The crafty Caribbeans have sacrificed cockerels in secret rituals," wrote Daily Star reporter James Wickham. "And they have told followers to bury birds' heads near the homes of England's star players.
"The aim is to give the Trinidad and Tobago team an edge in their crunch group clash with England in Nuremberg on June 15."
The Daily Star-which is not one of Britain's more respected sources of news-further suggested that T&T successfully used voodoo in their 4-0 World Cup qualifying win over Mexico in 1973 when the Mexicans supposedly "hit the woodwork 14 times and saw seven players suffer freak injuries".
Wickham claimed to have unearthed a Trinidadian supporter who admitted the bizarre plot.
"I have paid for seven, all kinds," said 'Robert'.
"It's not personal and they will not go on beyond the World Cup. If the England players dig around their homes they may even find some heads of chickens."
The claims of freak occurrences in Trinidad and Tobago's emphatic win against Mexico are untrue as, almost certainly, are any notions of "Soca Warrior" supporters slaughtering chickens in the hope of unsettling Wayne Rooney and company.
The Star also claimed that "the voodoo curses are hot topics on unofficial internet message boards about the team", which is also unfounded.
T&T's Britain-based players were aware of the story but refused comment on it. Most laughed off the claims although there was some concern about British perception of Caribbean life.
Ashton Ford, Trinidad and Tobago British High Commission attaché on public affairs, culture and tourism, was not amused but said England's response to our World Cup qualification was generally very positive.
Ford did one interview yesterday with a London-based West Indian community radio station, Choice FM, but said that no one else called to enquire or complain about the Star's story.
"We dismiss it as nonsense," Ford told the Daily Express. "Our sportsmen are known as very disciplined people and ours teams have won several fair play awards.
"The majority of the (British) media has had good things to say about us."
The London High Commission will host a reception for the British and foreign media and culinary experts on April 10 called "Taste of T&T", which is meant to offer a more accurate view of T&T's culture.
Former calypso monarch, Tobago Crusoe, and Britain's reigning monarch, Helena B, will both perform while there will also be Indian song and dance, steelpan and costumed Poison girls on show.
It is uncertain whether Wickham might turn up for the festivities.
Ironically, the British government yesterday unveiled plans to officially launch 'Soca' yesterday.
In this case, Soca stands for the Serious Organised Crime Organisation, which will be mandated to tackle drug trafficking, money laundering and the smuggling of people for the illicit sex trade and slave labour.
There was nothing in the England Times article to suggest that either Trinidad and Tobago captain Dwight Yorke or his English counterpart David Beckham had anything to fear.