Blatter Warns Brazil Over WC Preparations as Bin Hammam Aims Jibe

The president of world soccer’s governing body FIFA, Sepp Blatter has admitted Brazil’s preparations ahead of hosting the 2014 World Cup are “not progressing very quickly”, as well as being the subject of a jibe from competing presidential candidate Mohamed bin Hammam.

Blatter said that Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo could be omitted from the 2013 Confederations Cup programme, the test event ahead of the World Cup a year later, due to the slow progress being made in preparations at the two major cities.

Blatter told the Associated Press: “The World Cup stadiums are still in the process of being discussed between the city mayors and the state governors. I must say that in comparison with the state of play between South Africa and Brazil three years before the World Cup, Brazil is behind South Africa. It’s a fact.”

Referring to how little time remained before the World Cup, Blatter said: “It is tomorrow, but the Brazilians think it’s just the day after tomorrow. What they shall do is to give a little bit more speed now in the organisation.”

Meanwhile Blatter’s opposition to what would be a record fourth term as FIFA president, Mohamed bin Hammam has stated that people’s perception of FIFA has been tarnished by the ‘unpopularity’ of the current presidential incumbent.

The Qatari national, president of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), blogged on his personal website: “The trip to Paris has given me a growing sense that more and more people within the game are eager to see change in FIFA.

“Unfortunately, from what I can see, people have been judging the entire organisation by the unpopularity of its president.

“Hopefully we will be able to change that and turn FIFA into an organisation we can all be proud of once again.”