Karl Marx statue gets World Cup makeover

CHEMNITZ, Germany (AP) Meet Germany's biggest fan: Karl Marx.

A huge statue of the father of communism in the city of Chemnitz sports Germany flags on its cheeks. Authorities say they dressed up the 40-ton bronze head, unveiled by communist East Germany in 1971, to project a ''friendly'' image but they concede that reaction hasn't been universally positive.

An outsize Germany shirt draped over Marx's pedestal was stolen in the early hours of Friday and found damaged nearby a few hours later.

The bust stands in front of a facade bearing his words ''Working men of all countries, unite!'' A banner above the madeover Marx declares: ''Football fans of all countries, we greet you!''

Chemnitz was renamed Karl-Marx-Stadt in 1953. After communism collapsed, residents voted in 1990 to restore its old name.