Sepp Blatter presses Brazil on readiness Associated Press GENEVA -- FIFA pesident Sepp Blatter urged Brazil on Monday to speed up its preparations for the 2014 World Cup. Blatter said Brazil's project was "not progressing very quickly" and lagged behind even where South Africa stood when the successful 2010 host fell behind with its construction schedule. "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," Blatter told reporters. Referring to how little time remained, Blatter said "it's tomorrow. 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 organization." Blatter said the slow progress meant Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo could be left off the program for the 2013 Confederations Cup, which is designed as a test event for the 32-team tournament. "The World Cup stadiums are still in the process of being discussed between the city mayors and the state governors," he said. Blatter reminded that the qualifying draw for FIFA's six confederations was scheduled in July. Brazilian authorities still have not agreed on a host city for the event. Speaking at a Swiss government-backed media event, he expressed optimism that a proven goal-line technology system would be in place in Brazil. Blatter also promised FIFA would have a zero-tolerance approach to corruption and bad behavior on and off the field. He outlined a new project for the FIFA Congress on June 1, where he's hoping to win election for a fourth four-year term. "I will present something very special there but I will not now disclose what is the content," Blatter said. "It's to fight corruption, all cheating and discrimination. "We also want to appeal to players, coaches, referees to behave on the field of play," he said, adding that illegal betting and match-fixing would be addressed. Blatter acknowledged Swiss public authorities had called on FIFA to be more transparent after corruption allegations clouded bidding contests for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups last year. FIFA's ethics panel barred two executive committee members from voting and suspended four other senior officials from duty. The two voters, Nigerian Amos Adamu and Reynald Temarii from Tahiti, have said they will appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport to overturn their sanctions of three years and one year, respectively. Blatter said the subject would be an important item on the congress agenda. "We're looking at our game. We want to be transparent when it comes to activities that are, let's say, forbidden," he said. However, Blatter said he had rejected requests from Swiss authorities that members of FIFA's judicial committees should be nominated by people from outside soccer's governing body. The FIFA president suggested the Swiss parliament and states would not accept having outside bodies choose their legal officials. "If it is valid for the government, it shall be valid for FIFA," Blatter said.
It's going to take a string of failures like this one and the two just awarded for FIFA to understand that only 6-7 countries in the world should be hosting the WC, unfortunately we'll be old men by the time it changes.
Long story short on this happening in countries where their team doesn't have a prayer of qualifying: Each country gets the same weight with their vote, and the little countries love making it more difficult for the heavyweights (ie the Caribbean trying to dick over Mexico and the US). This is why you rarely see someone on the committee from the US or Mexico. Little countries will almost always vote in a small representative that has only the interests of the little teams in mind.
THAT'S IT! Obama needs to invade FIFA! No ground troops necessary; tomahawks and F-16's will do. Can easily get to Switzerland via aircraft carriers in the Mediterranean, so no need for approval from UN or Congress.
I mean, it's a just system that way. The best team should be able to qualify even if they make it harder for them to. Without having the incentive of being on a committee, what's the point of those countries even fielding a team? Sure, there fans love it but they don't stand a chance. Give them a say in things and they're pleased.
That's what I thought, but it's still unbelievable that they have someone on the Executive Committee. Country has like 180k people total.
Report: World Cup construction delays to add more than $410 million in costs to Brazil By Associated Press, Published: November 7 SAO PAULO — Brazil’s largest newspaper says the country will spend an additional $410 million to expedite construction work for the 2014 World Cup. The Folha de S. Paulo daily says costs will increase because more workers will have to be hired to complete stadiums and infrastructure in time for the monthlong tournament. Folha says that work will be nonstop at nine stadiums and seven airports, meaning extra shifts must be added. The stadium in Sao Paulo, site of the World Cup’s opening game, is among those that requiring more workers. The airport in South America’s biggest city also will cost more.
Hosting the World Cup seems like more trouble than its worth with all the requirements FIFA gives the country. With that said, i'm secretly hoping Brazil can't get their shit together in time, (I think they have until a year before the first game), USA and England are probably the only countries that could host such an event in such short notice.
It's just more trouble when you're a 3rd world country. US, France, and Germany didn't really have that many issues. I can't really remember the Korea/Japan situation. And no way Brazil doesn't get this done. South Africa was further behind at this stage.
Brazil isn't a third world country. Hell it's closer to 1st world with it being a newly industrialized country
Brazil is on it's way but it certainly has plenty of infrastructure problems among other things that are causing the problems for the WC preparation.
FIFA: Brazil still behind schedule RIO DE JANEIRO -- FIFA's secretary general rebuked Brazil again for being behind schedule in stadium preparations for the 2014 World Cup. Jerome Valcke said Thursday "there is not a single stadium ready today." He added that beer must be allowed at matches despite Brazilian law prohibiting beer sales at games. Valcke spoke alongside retired Brazil great Ronaldo and Brazilian sports minister Aldo Rebelo following visits to two host cities, Fortaleza and Salvador. Ronaldo, the newest member of the World Cup local organizing committee, said he was confident the stadiums would be ready on time. Brazil's World Cup will be played in 12 far-flung venues, including a 44,000-seat stadium being built in the Amazon jungle city of Manaus. Each of the 12 cities will host at least four matches, prompting concerns about travel in a vast nation where the ailing airport infrastructure repeatedly has been highlighted by FIFA as needing an upgrade. Valcke already has urged Brazilian lawmakers to pick up the pace. On Thursday, he pressed the Brazilian Congress for approval of a package of laws regulating the World Cup. Brazil prohibited alcohol sales inside stadiums in 2003 in a bid to reduce violence. But Budweiser is a major World Cup sponsor and FIFA is urging lawmakers to allow beer sales in the stadiums during the showcase tournament. "We're not talking about alcohol, we're talking about beer," Valcke said. Other disputes between FIFA and the Brazilian government include liability for security and safety problems, and the sale of discounted tickets to students and the elderly as guaranteed by Brazilian law. Rebelo said the disagreements should be settled once Brazil's Congress votes on the pending World Cup bill. The vote is expected to take place by March. Ricardo Teixeira, president of the organizing committee, did not attend the news conference, although FIFA said in a statement he participated in the organizing committee's meeting. Valcke said Teixeira could not attend the news conference because of commitments, and Teixeira's absence was "his decision." Teixeira is implicated in a scandal involving millions of dollars in kickbacks from World Cup broadcast deals. FIFA postponed publication of documents in December that would identify the soccer officials involved because, the soccer organization said, of legal action by one of the parties. The BBC has reported that Teixeira and former FIFA president Joao Havelange are among those involved. FIFA estimates the 2014 World Cup will cost about $1.3 billion, including the organizing committee's budget. The governing body gets most of its revenue from sponsorship deals and other income related to its marquee event. Its budget forecast for the four-year cycle of 2011 to 2014 is expected to bring in about $3.8 billion, with profits of about $200 million.
Looking forward to a crappy run of games from 2014 through 2022 that will make FIFA look like idiots. Should have awarded both 2014 and 2018 at the same time and given Brazil the later date to work longer on their projects.
Can we just admit that aside from the US and Western Europe, nobody really has the infrastructure to host a world cup? Brazil may be moving closer to being a 1st world country, but it isn't one yet. Not even close.
The whole country is too worried about dancing to this song than worry about construction progress. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcm55lU9knw
Dad works with Brazilians and they are literally mindless....they tend to take things waaaaaaaay too slow
The Brazilian World Cup should have just been the S. American World Cup, held in major S. American cities. That would have been easier with better venues and travel, but stupid laws like the "no beer" would have been a nightmare for all countries.
Romario critical of Cup preparations Associated Press SAO PAULO -- Former Brazilian star Romario has again criticized his country's preparations for the 2014 World Cup, saying he fears it faces embarrassment if work on outdated airports is not speeded up. Now a congressman, Romario said he is certain there will be overspending in many of the 12 World Cup stadiums and that "they will rob" public funds and use the tournament as an excuse. In an interview with the Bandeirantes network, Romario said it will be "chaos" in Brazil's airports during the World Cup if renovation and upgrades don't get started as soon as possible. "We will be embarrassed with our airports here in Brazil if the necessary work doesn't start quickly," Romario said. "To tell you the truth, I'm trying to stay positive and I'm hoping that it won't happen. But we see what happens during long holidays now, and it's not going to be different in the World Cup." Soccer great Pele previously said that Brazil was risking embarrassment because of the condition of its airports. The nation's airports are struggling to meet the growing demands brought on by Brazil's economy, and the government and organizers -- including FIFA -- have repeatedly said air transportation will be a major concern during the World Cup. The government privatized operations at three of the nation's main airports on Monday and it plans to do the same to others in the near future to try to speed up the needed upgrades. Improving airports plagued with bottlenecks, long lines and poor infrastructure was a key promise the government made in its winning bid to host soccer's top event. Romario also said he is concerned with overspending and misuse of public funds in many of the stadiums that will host matches in 2014 and in the 2013 Confederations Cup. "I've been in the 12 host cities and unfortunately a lot of the stadiums will be left to be finished just a year or so before the tournament because then it is categorized as emergency work and there is no more need for bidding processes. The sky will be the limit then, you can't imagine the costs that will appear in the majority of these stadiums. They will rob without shame." Romario didn't specify whom he was referring to when he used the term "rob." Last year, after one of his visits to the host cities, Romario said that he was disappointed with what he saw and that he expected "problems" to get the country ready for the World Cup and said that "things are not going to happen." He said the tournament in Brazil is "not going to be the best of all time" as he once thought when the nation won the right to host it in 2007.
Hell, forget being "the best of all time." If they're lucky this won't be a disaster, from the sounds of things.
More World Cup workers go on strike in Brazil Published April 12, 2012 Associated Press SAO PAULO – A strike by workers in Brazil has stopped construction at a World Cup stadium in Salvador, the third host city affected by strikes this month. Work was halted at the Fonte Nova stadium Thursday, a day after workers voted to remain on strike in Fortaleza and Natal, two other World Cup venues in the northeast part of the country. The strike in Salvador also affected some of the infrastructure work needed for the 2014 World Cup. The union said the construction workers want better salaries and benefits, but failed to reach an agreement with the local government despite ongoing negotiations since January. There have been strikes in the past at other World Cup venues in Brazil, including in Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte and Recife. Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2012/04/12/more-world-cup-workers-go-on-strike-in-brazil/#ixzz1rrzQmJul
I encourage them to continue their strike. I'll hold out hope for the outside chance that they just move it to the US or England.
Also the Brazilian Government is making it really hard on FIFA about passing a law to allow alcohol in the stadiums. I don't understand why there can't be a temporary measure passed just for the world cup, and eventually I'm sure FIFA will pressure them into it. But, its great to see them pissing off FIFA even more.
How does Brazil promote the WC, you ask? Well, they use a fucking armadillo and the tranny-banger... Brazil reveals World Cup mascot September 15, 2012 By Associated Press SAO PAULO -- The 2014 World Cup mascot is a yet to-be-named endangered Brazilian armadillo. FIFA said Brazilians will have until mid-November to choose the name from three choices -- Amijubi, Fuleco and Zuzeco. The announcement was made Sunday on a television show with help from former Brazil star Ronaldo. "I'm delighted to welcome such an important member to the 2014 team," Ronaldo said. "The mascot will play a key ambassadorial role in the next two years. I'm sure he will inspire many young football fans in Brazil and all over the world with the great passion which he has for the sport and for his country." The three-banded armadillo, which is in danger of extinction, rolls up into the shape of a ball when threatened and is commonly found in northeastern Brazil. The mascot carries the colors of the Brazilian flag. It is yellow, with green shorts and a blue shell and tail. It is dressed in a white shirt with the words "Brazil 2014" written on it. "The fact that the three-banded armadillo is a vulnerable species is very fitting," FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke said in a statement. "One of the key objectives through the 2014 FIFA World Cup is to use the event as a platform to communicate the importance of the environment and ecology." FIFA said Amijubi is a "representation of friendliness and joy," while Fuleco and Zuzeco are linked to an "ecological message." Soccer's governing body said the three options were picked "after a vote by a high-profile judging committee" in Brazil, including former Ronaldo teammate Bebeto. The mascot of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa was a leopard, an animal commonly found in that country. It was yellow and green -- the South African colors -- and was called Zakumi. In 2006 in Germany, the mascot was a lion called Goleo. The first time a mascot was introduced at the World Cup was in 1966 in England -- a lion dressed in the Union Jack flag and named Willie. Other World Cup mascots included a boy called Juanito in Mexico in 1970, an orange named Naranjito in Spain in 1982, a dog called Striker in the United States in 1994 and a rooster named Footix in France in 1998. FIFA also recently announced that the World Cup ball will be called "Brazuca," an informal word often used to describe national pride. Adidas, the official World Cup ball supplier, said Brazilians voted on the name that "symbolizes emotion, pride and goodwill to all," mirroring Brazil's "approach to football." "Brazuca" also is often used as the nickname given to Brazilians living outside the country, including the hundreds of soccer players playing abroad. Brazil is hosting the World Cup for the first time since 1950.