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Fearing Boos, Blatter and Dilma Will Not Speak at World Cup Opening

03/12/2014 - 09h31

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RAFAEL REIS
FROM SÃO PAULO

FIFA has decided to cut the World Cup opening speeches of their rep, Joseph Blatter, and President Dilma Rousseff, for fear that the two could be the target of boos as they were in the Confederations Cup.

The revelation was made by Blatter himself in an interview with German agency mews DPA, commenting on the possibility of hearing jeers likewere heard in 2013.

"You never know what will happen, I am not a prophet.I'm convinced that the situation [demonstrations and public protests] will be ok. We'll do the the opening ceremony in a way that speeches are not included," the President said.

The decision was unilaterally taken by FIFA and, in accordance with the advice of the organization, is not definitive. The Brazilian president claimed to not have been advised (see text on the right).

At the Confederations Cup opening in June, Rousseff was the target of booing three times and decided to shorten her speech. Blatter, also jeered, arrived to question spectators at the Mané Garrincha Stadium in Brasília. "Where is the respect, where is fair play?" he said.

The competition took place at the height of the demonstrations that took over major cities in Brazil last year.

Public spending on the World Cup and the Confederations Cup were among the main criticisms of protestors at that time.

"TECHNICAL DECISION"

After the publication of the Blatter's interview yesterday, FIFA's advisory softened on the content of his declarations.

According to FIFA's communication department, cutting the speeches is not linked to the risk of authorities being jeered and was only a "technical decision", since "not every ceremony needs to have speeches."

World Cups under Blatter's management - the last three - had speeches by the presidents of the host countries.

Blatter only made a speech at one of three of the opening ceremonies since he assumed the presidency of Fifa. On that occasion, in 2006, only then German President Horst Köhler, spoke.

Speeches by World Cup officials often have a a lot of booing.

In 1994, they reached the then U.S. President Bill Clinton. In 1998, the target was the representative of FIFA at that time, João Havelange.

Four years later, it was time for Blatter. In the last World Cup in 2010, the authorized representative and the president of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, heard the criticism, but only in the final game.

IN BRASÍLIA

In a reserved way, Rousseff said she has arranged with representatives of FIFA not to speak at the opening ceremony of the World Cup to avoid jeers.

According to presidential aides, there is no decision about it, although some advisors claim that Dilma thinks that a football stadium is not an appropriate site for policy pronouncements.

Least because, by the assessment of members of government, the chances of an official not be harassed at such an event, especially after the events of last June, are minimal.

In government, the concern over negative repercussions for the World Cup gained additional weight due to the electoral calendar. Dilma, therefore, needs to avoid constraints that can be exploited by the opposition.

Translated by STEVE HUGHES

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