Curitiba and Cuiabá Stadiums Worry FIFA

12/03/2013 - 08h20

On the eve of the draw for the 2014 World Cup, which takes place on Friday (6), the stadiums in Cuiabá and Curitiba are worrying FIFA.

According to an internal assessment by the organization, these stadiums will not meet the required deadline of December 31.

According to FIFA, they are the most delayed stadiums of the 12 chosen to host World Cup matches.

Cuiabá's stadium won't be ready before the first week of January. The main problem is the installation of seats.

In September, an investigation by the State's Public Ministry pointed to overpricing in the purchase of seats for the Pantanal Arena.

The purchase of the seats would cost US$ 8.5 million, an amount considered abusive by the ministry.

Only in November, after explanations given by the state government, was it concluded that there were no irregularities and the acquisition of the seats was liberated.

These events have delayed the installation of the seats. Sought after by Folha, the Secretariat of the Cup in Mato Grosso admitted that the stadium would not be ready by December 31, but estimated that its opening would happen at the end of January.

The Arena da Baixada situation is considered even worse by FIFA. The stadium in Curitiba was one of the last of those set to host World Cup games to start its renovations, which are only 83% complete, also in accordance with the matrix of the federal government's responsibilities.

FIFA's internal assessment indicates that the stadium in Paraná will only be ready from February 2014.

Atlético-PR, responsible for the work, did not want to comment on the delay.

The lawn is touted as one of the negative points of the Arena da Baixda. The field does not follow FIFA's initial recommendations, which advocates the planting of seedlings.

The lawn will be installed in rolls, like Maracanã, Pernambuco Arena and Mané Garrincha did for the Confederations Cup.

ITAQUERÃO

In a meeting held yesterday morning between FIFA's top leaders and the directors of the LOC (Local Organizing Committee), the situation of the six Cup stadiums that remain to be completed was discussed.

At this meeting, the accident at Itaquerão, the stadium that will open the World Cup in São Paulo, was treated as a priority.

Last Wednesday, the collapse of a crane killed two workers. The stadium's completion will be delayed and will now only be ready between the end of January and the beginning of February 2014.

FIFA is worried because on Friday, the day of the draw, the teams drawn to play in São Paulo could question the stadium's presence in the tournament.

Translated by JILL LANGLOIS

Read the article in the original language

	Christophe Simon - 11.nov.2013/AFP
	Picture taken on November 11, 2013 of the Arena Pantanal stadium -still under construction- in Cuiaba, state of Mato Grosso