Pants or no pants, that is the question

This gentleman is the mascot of the 2006 World Cup in Germany, his name is Goleo, and he's allegedly in trouble... The press in Germany have allegedly (there's that word again) taken exception to the fact that their Jim Henson Workshop created mascot doesn't wear pants...

Now in 1966, the lion in England did wear pants. The problem back then... his unfortunate choice of name...