March 25 – The mayor of Porto Alegre has warned the city may be forced to drop out of the World Cup if key legislation is not approved this week.
Jose Fortunati told a local radio station that “there was no plan B” to find much-needed extra funding for the Estadio Beira-Rio that is not yet ready to host matches.
Just as Fifa secretary general Jerome Valcke Valcke arrived in Rio de Janeiro for the latest series of meetings to discuss Brazil’s preparations for the tournament that starts in June, Fortunati said there had to be tax breaks for companies investing in temporary structures for the tournament.
“This is the point which matters in terms of holding the World Cup in Porto Alegre,” he said. “If the bill is not voted, we will not have the World Cup in Porto Alegre. This is because we will not have the resources to do it. We have no plan B, C or Z. The only alternative is this. We are in a difficult situation.”
Porto Alegre, located in the south of Brazil, is scheduled to play host to four group matches and a last-16 clash including fixtures with France, Holland and Argentina. The Beira Rio stadium is almost complete but needs temporary structures to house the media, sponsors and other requirements.
The authorities are not allowed to use public money in structures that will not be used after the World Cup and Valcke admitted last week that delays were most worrying in Sao Paulo’s Arena Corinthians – set to host the opening match – and in Porto Alegre.
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