Along with millions of football fans across the globe, the FIFA World Cup soccer fever has gripped top political leaders as well. On Saturday, CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat held a snap press conference, prompting a journalist to quip: “Now there’s at least something to write before going back home to watch the matches.” Karat smiled and retorted: “Well, I was awake last night to watch the matches myself. Everyone wants to wrap up his work early to go back to the TV set to watch the World Cup”