By Andrew Warshaw
May 22 – A vital final test event at the troubled stadium that is hosting the opening game of the World Cup has been postponed for three days, raising fresh concerns that the Sao Paulo venue will be far from ready for the June 12 kickoff.
Corinthians were scheduled to play Cruzeiro at the Itaquerao stadium May 29 but the game has been called off amid fears of traffic chaos on a normal working day in Brazil’s largest city, and moved to the following Sunday.
FIFA said it was also important to “ensure it attracts more than 50,000” fans needed to properly test the venue. Less than 40,000 people attended the first test match at the Itaquerao last weekend when the 20,000 temporary seats being added for the opening game of the tournament couldn’t be used.
The new test event will be staged less than two weeks before the high-profile opener between Brazil and Croatia when 70,000 are expected. “It (is) vital for us that all facilities will be tested under full match conditions,” FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke said on Twitter. “Including the temporary seats (and) associated facilities.”
The change in date comes amid a bus strike in Sao Paulo that has created chaos in a city already known for its appalling traffic problems. Although the World Cup opener falls on a Thursday, it is anticipated that match days will be public holidays – at least in Sao Paulo.
FIFA said in a statement that it was a “request from local authorities” to have the match moved to the weekend to “reduce the impact on the city’s operational routine.”
By contrast, typical of the buck-passing that has characterised the buildup, the Brazilian soccer federation said it was FIFA who had requested the change citing a “necessity to make adjustments” at the Itaquerao.
The venue should have been completed by the end of last year, but two construction accidents that killed a total of three workers caused significant delays to building work.
The second test match was to be played between stadium owner Corinthians and Brazilian champion Cruzeiro. Now it will be Corinthians against Botafogo.
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