By Andrew Warshaw
October 21- Brazilian Sports Minister Aldo Rebelo, the government official in charge of preparations for next year’s World Cup, appears to have staged a u-turn and has decided to stay on.
Last week, Rebelo announced he would almost certainly step down in December to run for Sao Paulo state governor.
But a government statement said Rebelo had accepted a request from President Dilma Rousseff to remain in his position.
Rebelo’s apparent change of heart spells good news for World Cup organisers. Fifa has stated that all 12 World Cup venues must be ready by December and appointing a successor to Rebelo would have been hugely awkward in terms of the timing.
Rebelo became sports minister late in 2011 after Orlando Silva left amid allegations of misuse of public funds. He has been a prominent figure in World Cup preparations, accompanying Fifa officials on nationwide visits and constantly talking up next year’s World Cup in the face of persistent uncertainty about Brazil’s readiness.
Contact the writer of this story: moc.l1734852038labto1734852038ofdlr1734852038owedi1734852038sni@w1734852038ahsra1734852038W.wer1734852038dnA1734852038