Ever since they won the right to host the 2014 FIFA World Cup, problems have plagued Brazil’s bid at every hurdle.
FIFA’s general secretary Jerome Valcke has a word to sum up the task so far: hell.
Strong words indeed from the man who has been in charge of ensuring the stadiums, host cities and everything else in between is up to scratch to welcome the world next month for the World Cup.
Valcke has previously lambasted the delays to stadiums, threatened to take games away from certain host cities and has had to deal with many other issues in his role as FIFA’s top inspector in the vast South American nation.
Now he’s laid the boot into the organizers once more after speaking out in Laussane where Valcke had the following to say about helping Brazil to prepare for soccer’s showpiece event this summer.“In Brazil there are certain politicians who are against the World Cup, and the fact is that we’ve been through hell, essentially because in Brazil you have three political levels and there has been a change -- there was an election and we’re not necessarily talking with the same people (as before) -- it was difficult to keep repeating the same message,” Valcke said. “It’s not FIFA that is organizing the World Cup in Brazil but Brazil which is organizing the World Cup in 12 towns. We’re supporting Brazil to ensure that it’s a success because the whole of FIFA is based around the success of the World Cup. If the World Cup is a failure then we, FIFA, are in trouble.”
From host cities not having Fan Fest’s, widespread protests against the governments spending to stage the tournament and huge delays in construction of the stadiums, it has indeed been a nightmare for FIFA and the Brazilian organizers to make the 2014 a reality.
Will it all the hassle be worth it? We haven’t got long to find out. June 12 is almost upon us.