May 28 – Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has fired back at criticism voiced by Ronaldo, one of the country’s footballing icons, over preparations for the World Cup in the latest spat to undermine the tournament.
In a recent interview with Reuters, Ronaldo, a member of the local organising committee, bemoaned the delays and postponements that have marred the buildup to kickoff saying he was “embarrassed” and that Brazil “shouldn’t be transmitting this image abroad.”
But Rousseff denounced Ronaldo’s comments. “We have no reason to be ashamed and we don’t have an inferiority complex,” she said.
Brazilian Sports Minister Aldo Rebelo said Ronaldo’s remarks were tantamount to an own goal “since he has been a part of the great effort put in to stage the World Cup here. I’m sure that, in the end, not only Ronaldo but all Brazilians and foreign tourists will be proud and not ashamed of what has been done.”
“What we have to do is meet all these challenges but feeling ashamed of the country is not a solution.”
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