German politicians have pleaded for business bosses to adopt a 'flexible' approach and allow workers to watch crucial World Cup matches.
A survey has found a third of German workers plan to take sick leave and 12 per cent say they are determined to watch the game somehow.
But most firms are banning workers from watching matches at work.
A total of 80 per cent of the country's top 500 firms plan to take a hard line with their football-mad workers, according to the research by business magazine Wirtschaftswoche.
Four out of five firms in Germany will impose a total TV ban on their employees while the football is on in work time. Only 9 per cent are allowing a few matches to be shown.
Most businesses say fans should take official holidays if they want to watch football in company time.
Companies taking the 'hard line' include Bayer - owners of Bayer Leverkusen, the Champions League finalists, Volkswagen, Ford and Dresdner Bank.
Mr Albert Gerbert, professor of psychology at Munster University said: "The companies facing the biggest problems are those with authoritarian structures and very strict hierarchies."
The companies surveyed say World Cup fever is exaggerated and 71 per cent of their workers are not really interested. Others say the firms are seriously misjudging the mood of their employees.
AP