Brazilian legend Romario questions 2014 World Cup

As the protests continue across Brazil, one of the countries greatest ever players has spoken of his disdain towards Fifa and the tournament being held in his homeland.

Romario, who is now a congressman for the Brazilian Socialist party (PSB), is on the warpath after World Cup plans have altered drastically since Brazil was awarded the tournament.

In a wonderfully crafted piece published in the Guardian, the former superstar striker has admitted that he initially backed the World Cup bid for Brazil 2014 but now believes the only people to benefit from the showpiece event will be Fifa. He claims soccer’s world governing body is set to make a $4 billion profit, tax-free.

With uproar across Brazil, Romario has sided with the protestors on the street as he calls for the country’s finances to be used elsewhere as the crippling costs of hosting the event has left parts of Brazil’s economy in tatters. The protestors aren’t necessarily against the World Cup, they just see it as yet another distraction standing in the way of Brazil becoming a better nation.

The politicians have neglected many important areas and Romario believes the country must come first instead of hosting the World Cup.

Despite an announcement yesterday that over $23 billion would be spent on public transport, the conditions in hospitals and schools are “deplorable” according to Romario. And he believes no legacy will be left behind after the World Cup is over and because of that, Brazil 2014 will be a failure.

President Dilma Rousseff repeats what former president Lula said, reassuring us that we’ll “host the best World Cup of all time”. I don’t agree, because we have failed on what matters most: a legacy to make us proud. Only Fifa is profiting, and this is one more good reason to go to the streets and protest. I never thought the World Cup would solve all of our problems, but now my fear is that this mega event will only deepen the problems we already have.

For a player that seemed hot-headed and egocentric on the pitch, damn, he talks a good deal of sense off it. Romario is in a unique situation. He was one of the men who made Brazil famous all over the world for their soccer exploits. Yet the former Barcelona star is now rallying against having the World Cup in his country, as he can see up close the harm it is causing to his proud nation.

I don’t know about you, but after this strong statement from one of Brazil’s greatest ever players, on every newscast televising the protests I’ll be looking out for a diminutive figure called Romario leading the people on their charge.

Preach it.