2014 World Cup to be Staged in Brazil Despite Protests at Confederations Cup

FIFA have confirmed that the 2014 World Cup will be staged in Brazil as planned, prostate despite government protests marring the Confederations Cup.

Protestors have taken to the streets in Brazil to voice their outrage at staging the Confederations Cup and World Cup despite the lack of funding in the education and health sector.

FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke has however confirmed that there is no ‘plan B’ and the World Cup will go ahead as planned.

“The World Cup will be held in Brazil,” said Valcke. “The first game will happen in Sao Paulo, the final will be in Rio.

“There is no plan B.”

Valcke did admit that FIFA had held talks to cancel the Confederations Cup as the unrest in the country reached greater heights.

“There was one evening on 20 June when we reached a peak in the country,” he added.

“The demonstrations had moved from being non-violent protests to a minority of violent protesters who were making a lot of noise and problems.

“So the following day we had a crisis meeting, including the government, the local organising committee and FIFA just to make sure we were on the same page, in order to end the tournament in the best possible way.”

On Friday, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff issued a public address where she insisted that the World Cup in 2014 would not be funded from the public purse.

FIFA spokesman Pekka Ordriozola said at a media briefing at the Maracana Stadium: “We welcome Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff’s addres to the nation and we reassert our collaboration with the (Brazilian) government to deliver a safe and successful Confederations Cup and World Cup, which all football fans can enjoy.

“We are in contact with the local authorities on a daily basis, which is normal for the usual structures of such an event.

“From both FIFA, the local organising committee and the federal government, there were no discussions regarding any cancellation or change of venue with regards to the Confederations Cup or the World Cup.

“There has been no discussion at this stage regarding that possibility.”

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