FIFA president Sepp Blatter has hit out at Brazil’s failings in delivering the 2014 World Cup, saying that no previous host country has “been so far behind in its preparations.”

Six of the nation’s 12 host stadiums failed to meet FIFA’s Dec. 31 deadline, while work on hotels, airports and roads have also been affected by delays.

And when asked if Brazil realised the scale of work involved, the FIFA chief told Swiss newspaper 24 Heures: “No. Brazil has just found out what it means and has started work much too late. “No country has been so far behind in its preparations since I have been at FIFA even though it is the only host nation which has had so much time -- seven years -- in which to prepare.”

Blatter, who admitted in December that there is “no plan B”, pointed out that Brazil have had seven years to prepare since being awarded the tournament, as previous hosts have only had six years or less.

Three of their stadiums are not likely to be finished until April, including the Itaquera Arena in Sao Paulo, which will host the opening match between Brazil and Croatia on June 12.

The Brazilian government said it would be completed in February, only for FIFA to confirm another deadline of April 15.

Last summer’s Confederations Cup, also held in Brazil, was dominated by protests, and Blatter feels the World Cup could feature more of the same. “I am an optimist not a pessimist. So I am not worried,” he said. “But we do know there will again be manifestations, protests. Those during the Confederations Cup -- in this same country -- were generated out of the social networks.

“There was no specific goal but during the World Cup the protests will perhaps be more concrete, more organised. But I also believe the football will be safe, I do not believe that Brazilians will attack the football directly. For them, it's a religion.”

Blatter also dropped another hint that he may change his mind and stand again for the FIFA presidency in 2015. He said: “I cannot answer with a yes or a no but simply state that I do not feel tired enough to say that I will not stand.”
http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1672526/fifa-president-sepp-blatter-blasts-brazil-world-cup-delays?cc=5901

...and these 'oyinbos' will always say Africans are lagging behind in development,improvement and readiness. South Africa never had any flaws in hosting the tournament in her time. Why Brazil of all countries? They really deserve the BLAST!

waleadex: ...and these 'oyinbos' will always say Africans are lagging behind in development,improvement and readiness. South Africa never had any flaws in hosting the tournament in her time. Why Brazil of all countries? They really deserve the BLAST!

The fact that 3 of the stadia will only be ready less than 2 months to the start of the tourney is shameful.They had 7 freaking years to prepare. Smh.

CFCfan:
The fact that 3 of the stadia will only be ready less than 2 months to the start of the tourney is shameful.They had 7 freaking years to prepare. Smh.

It's just so shameful,too shameful and very shameful!

sepp is yarning crap

He is in charge of a world cup that forces host countries to develop 10 stadia that will only be marginally utilised post event
Does he think its only stadia that is required in this large country where cities are far flung- airports, trains, roads, hotels and security

They should reduce the number of cities to 4 or 6 so that fans in those citties can have a superb experience

The same thing will happen in Russia n Qatar where the cost of following your team will be prohibitive

pickabeau1: sepp is yarning crap

He is in charge of a world cup that forces host countries to develop 10 stadia that will only be marginally utilised post event
Does he think its only stadia that is required in this large country where cities are far flung- airports, trains, roads, hotels and security

They should reduce the number of cities to 4 or 6 so that fans in those citties can have a superb experience

The same thing will happen in Russia n Qatar where the cost of following your team will be prohibitive

what about fans in the other parts of the coutry, especially as their tax money is also being used!

The prohibitive cost of the world cup still affects everyone...

Having host cities that will just host 2 matches is outmoded and is still not a pocket friendly to the paying fans

This works well in european cities which have excellent infrastructure but in big countries like the States or developing countries, a NO NO

Lets look at the USA 94 team

Cost of following Nigeria in the group stages

Nigeria 3–0 Bulgaria Cotton Bowl, Dallas
Argentina 2–1 Nigeria Foxboro Stadium, Foxborough, MA
Greece 0–2 Nigeria Foxboro Stadium, Foxborough, MA

---

Conservative costs

Costs go up.. a 100 dollar will be like 200 dollars in the summer..

Shelling out at 200 a night for like 8 nights = 1600 usd
A three hour flight from Dallas to MA will be like 350- 500 usd.. some can be as much as 600 usd

This does not include road trip costs.. this is even an exceptional case as we played the last two matches in the same city and even the match with Italy there

Brazil is even worse.. thats why ive decided to stay home and watch it.. the tentative budget is killing...



Meals

Dis Guy:

what about fans in the other parts of the coutry, especially as their tax money is also being used!

by building stadia in other less well known cities; other infrastructure will follow and hopefully the economy will be opened for tourism in the following years-

everyone will be affected by the cost, it's the long term gain for those cities they'll consider
watching one or two 'main match' will be ideal, the rest will be sight seeing-
those hoteliers and airline will be making a killing

South Africa should be everywhere by now lambasting FIFA and brazil for being slow

FIFA's strict stadium requirements almost always ensures that there would be significant upgrades of stadia, and construction of new stadia.

Even if England were to host it, apart from Wembley, Emirates and Anfield; the other venues would need significant upgrades.

CFCfan: FIFA's strict stadium requirements almost always ensures that there would be significant upgrades of stadia, and construction of new stadia.
Even if England were to host it, apart from Wembley, Emirates and Anfield; the other venues would need significant upgrades.

They want 45- 50k seater stadia, how many countries boast of vibrant leagues to host such

Go to greece and see the images of the olympic facilities,,, rotting

This is china- beijing 08
http://www.theatlanticcities.com/jobs-and-economy/2012/07/beijings-olympic-ruins/2499/

See the cartels causing problems for Brazil
http://column.global-labour-university.org/2013/10/a-lesson-from-south-africa-are.html

Towards a construction sector cartel investigation
The Brazilian Congress is set to decide whether or not to probe the cost overruns of the stadiums and allegations of corruption.

We believe there are sufficient grounds for the Brazilian government to open a full investigation into the operations of a construction cartel; the Competition Committee Report of the OECD, the overwhelming evidence of South Africa’s Competition Commission Report, especially in relation to the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and the dramatic cost increases of Brazil’s stadium costs when compared to the 2007 FIFA Inspection Team Report.

A further motivation for the need of such an investigation is the recent decision by the Sao Paulo State to ‘file a lawsuit against Siemens AG (SI) to try to recover money the company allegedly overcharged the state for trains sold by a consortium to city and regional transportation networks’. This latter case should demonstrate the need to ensure that the Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE) involved in the Siemens investigation extends its investigation into the construction sector. Such an investigation into the affairs of the construction cartel should not be limited to Brazilian companies only but also extended to international companies involved in construction related activities.

Finally, it is necessary that the Brazilian government responds to the appeal by civil society for greater transparency and accountability in the affairs of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and make public the official Brazilian Bid Book.

Its all a huge scam
For developing nations, limit the stadia number
The best they would host is 4 matches... the cost on the fans are crazy,,, post tournament, they are not feasible

Now they have announced qatar will hold in between Nov to January 2023

scammers...

pickabeau1: Now they have announced qatar will hold in between Nov to January 2023

scammers...

Lwkmd