FIFA President Blatter Questions Brazil as World Cup Host

07/18/2013 - 08h39

The wave of Brazilian protests during the Confederations Cup in June still haunts FIFA. That concern was evident on Wednesday when its president, Joseph Blatter, said that if the acts were to reoccur in 2014, the choice of Brazil as a host would have been proven wrong.

The statement by the Swiss football administrator was given to the German news agency DPA and confirmed to Folha by a press spokesperson for FIFA. "If it [the protests] happens again in 2014, we can only question if the right decision was made in granting the right to Brazil," he said.

However, Blatter said that he still believes Brazil will host a great World Cup. "I am confident that Brazil will put on an outstanding World Cup. It's the right place," said the Executive, according to a FIFA aide.

Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP

Joseph Blatter, the boss of Fifa, chided the Brazilian football fans at the opening of the Mane Garrincha national stadium in Brasilia when they booed President Dilma Rousseff.

The FIFA Chief stated that he would hold a meeting with President Dilma Rousseff in September to discuss the matter.

The Ministry of Sports through a spokesperson, preferred not to get involved in the remark. "The success of the Confederations Cup proves the wisdom in the choice of Brazil as World Cup host."

Soon after the end of the Confederations Cup, FIFA Secretary General Jérôme Valcke said that his organization did not think about making changes to the schedule or in any other part of the timetable of the World Cup due to possibilities of a fresh wave of protests in 2014.

Thousands of Brazilians took to the streets during the World Cup prep tournament in June, demanding better public services and questioning high costs related to Brazil's hosting of the World event.

As Folha revealed on June 21, also in the group stage of the Confederations Cup, FIFA and its partners contemplated lifting the finals from Brazil and bringing them to another country if it was perceived that there would not be adequate security to finish the tournament.

Translated by STEVE HUGHES

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