Football world cup has ever been a most extravagant event requiring billions of dollars in preparation. Not every country can afford to spend so much amount of money, and if a country still spends this amount in renovating soccer stadiums and other hospitality services rather taking care of their internal health, transport, and other necessities which are important for a common man, a wide protest from public is viable. This is something that is being happened in Brazil – the host of next year’s FIFA world cup. According to recent reports, protests are being demonstrated on several places throughout Brazil showing their grief over politicians’ speedy action plans for hosting world cup rather investing on deteriorating healthcare and ground infrastructure. This is not the first time, protests are being carried on by common peoples of a country demanding better deployment of their limited resources rather hosting a sporting event, but, in Brazil, this is for the first time that peoples have come together on streets to express their anger over current political system and level of corruption in Brazil.
To calm down these protestors, FIFA president Sepp Blatter has come forward and appealed to all the protestors to stop blaming football for their day-to-day problems; perhaps he advised to explore this biggest opportunity by enjoying the host of infrastructure work being done in their country coz all the ground work being done there is for their benefit. Reportedly, Brazil has spent over $3.3 billion in improving its stadiums, hotels, transport, and training facilities which is a considerable amount looking at Brazil’s economic conditions and current recession there. Blatter said, “Brazil asked to host the World Cup, we did not impose the World Cup on Brazil. They knew that to host a good World Cup they would naturally have to build stadiums. But we said that it was not just for the World Cup. Together with the stadiums there are other constructions: highways, hotels, airports … items that are for the future. Not just for the World Cup. In football, the whole country gets the legacy.”
As par the latest details coming from Rio, thousands of protesters have planned to club outside of the stadium where Spain and Tahiti will play their Confederation cup clash. However, police have stopped countless protestors to reach around Maracana on Sunday itself, but another rally of marchers is supposed to find their way on Thursday. What Blatter said over peoples antagonism is, “I can understand that people are unhappy. But football is here to unite people. Football is here to build bridges, to generate excitement, to bring hope.”