Blatter keen on Brazil visit to help swing contentious World Cup bill

By Andrew Warshaw

April 11 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter (pictured left) wants to make a personal visit to Brazil to address those involved in the controversial World Cup bill that has caused so much consternation.

Brazilian Senators last week rejected a proposed visit by Blatter’s number two, Jerome Valcke, because they are still taking umbrage at the FIFA general secretary’s perceived crude comments over the slowness of the country’s 2014 World Cup preparations.

“The FIFA president indicated that he will come back to the [Senate] regarding possible dates to meet the members of the three commissions in charge of elaborating the 2014 bill,” FIFA said in a statement.

It added, however, that “at this stage no visit of the FIFA president is scheduled”.

Both Blatter and Valcke have apologised for the latter’s notorious “kick up the backside” remarks that made worldwide headlines, with Valcke now supposedly back in charge of working with the Brazilian Government.

Festering resentment clearly remains on the Brazilian side even though sports minister Aldo Rebelo (pictured below) is trying to let bygones be bygones.

“FIFA has already apologised,” he said.

“We have to overcome this episode and move on so we can stay on schedule.”

Valcke’s comments have made it more difficult for the lower house of Congress to approve the bill, which still would have to be sanctioned by Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff after being passed in the Senate.

The sale of alcohol is still the sticking point.

Alcohol is banned inside Brazilian stadiums, but FIFA demands a change in the law because Budweiser is a World Cup sponsor.

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