In an attempt to boost Australia's spirits (and get some valuable World Cup publicity), and Australian sportsbook launched a hot-air balloon in the Melbourne skies which strongly resemble Brazil's Christ the Redeemer statue. But it's not just a simple hot-air balloon. The 151-foot Jesus balloon was wearing an Australia shirt with the words "#KeepTheFaith" on the back.
Rev Costello, the chair of the Australian Churches Gambling Taskforce, was not impressed.
"One of the great statues in Rio is Jesus, and Brazil is a Catholic nation that takes its faith seriously and its football fanatically. You don't exploit those things that are sacred to people simply for your own advertising reach and I think that soccer as a world game should be sensitive to that and certainly express their disdain for these types of advertisements." Costello said.