By Andrew Warshaw
November 5 – FIFA secretary general Jérôme Valcke says time is of the essence to ensure Brazil is ready for next summer’s Confederations Cup, the traditional World Cup dress rehearsal, and warns there must be no “logistical nightmares”.
Valcke (pictured top, left, and below) says venues must step up to the plate, with ticket sakes soon to go on sale for the eight-team tournament.
FIFA is to confirm on Thursday (November 8) whether it will have to drop any of the six venues being slated to stage matches and Valcke, who has repeatedly warned about the slow pace of construction, used his latest column on FIFA’s website to keep up the pressure on the Brazilian authorities.
“This is a crucial moment for us organisers because once the ticket sales start it would be very problematic if a venue runs into challenges to be ready to host matches,” wrote Valcke.
“And here I need to repeat myself when we speak about readiness.
“We do not mean the day of the tournament kickoff but with enough time to stage at least two proper test events.
“That is also why we always reiterate that the venues for the major FIFA tournaments need to be ready six months ahead of the first game.”
Tickets go on sale on December 3 and Valcke added: “I know this sounds a long time but in reality it’s not.
“New venues particularly need more time to be fully tested at various events at different capacities.
“From electrics to crowd management, from stewards to public transport and parking management all processes must be well established to ensure that come the FIFA Confederations Cup next June – when Brazil will be in the spotlight of the world – we will not face any major operational obstacles.
“We must ensure that fans have an unforgettable experience without any logistical nightmares.”
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