A survey warned UK businesses that one in seven workers were planning to take sick days to watch the World Cup this month. But around the world the global game is damaging more than just worker productivity.

In China, the matches are typically shown late at night or in early morning hours - perfect times to enjoy the game with a drink. At least three Chinese citizens have died from either drinking or high blood-pressure due to overexcitement while watching games.

Soccer-crazy Thai monks are also struggling to cope with World Cup fever. Many young monks are going hungry because they are staying up too late to recieve early morning alms. In Cambodia, the situation is worse. The government has threatened to defrock over 40,000 monks. "If they make noise or cheer as they watch, they will lose their monkhood," Phnom Penh patriarch Non Nget told Reuters this month.