Jun 26, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Argentina midfielder Lionel Messi (10) plays the ball against Chile midfielder Charles Aranguiz (20) during the championship match of the 2016 Copa America Centenario soccer tournament at MetLife Stadium. Chile defeated Argentina 0-0 (4-2). Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

While American fans may be disappointed that the USMNT is missing out on the World Cup, the truth of the matter is that soccer isn’t as big of a deal in the States as it is in some other places around the world. The World Cup is a sporting event that many top footballing nations live and die with, especially some of the leading countries that are true contenders to lift the trophy.

One of those soccer-obsessed countries is undoubtedly Argentina. Just how seriously do they take the World Cup in Argentina?

From Yahoo via AFP comes this bizarre story that attempts to somewhat answer that question. Apparently inmates at an Argentinian prison in the southern part of the country are going on a hunger strike. Not because they’re being mistreated. Not because they’re being denied their basic rights. But because they have no cable TV to watch the World Cup. No TV and no beer make Homer something something.

 Inmates in an Argentine prison have begun a hunger strike to press authorities to repair the cable TV system so they can watch the World Cup.

“Cable television is an indispensable right for everyone deprived of their liberty,” according to a statement from nine inmates at Puerto Madryn jail some 1,300 kilometers (800 miles) south of Buenos Aires.

“It hasn’t been working for three days. And we have decided not to receive any food until the problem is resolved,” the prisoners wrote.

The nine inmates also filed a legal suit to assert their rights. The cable system, located in a common area of the jail, was damaged recently and not repaired.

I am truly fascinated by the legal argument of “cable television is an indispensable right for everyone deprived of their liberty.” How would that hold up in court? And what are the other inmates making of this hunger strike if there’s only nine prisoners taking part? Given Argentina’s recent tournament history, maybe these prisoners would be better off not setting themselves up for heartbreak while also making sure they receive their needed sustenance.

Argentina will kick off their World Cup on Saturday June 16th with a much anticipated matchup with upset-minded Iceland. They then will play against Croatia on Thursday 6/21 and round off play in Group D with a matchup against Nigeria on Tuesday 6/26.

[Yahoo]