March 8 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter reprimanded Brazilian politicians for promising that the opening match of the 2014 World Cup would be staged in Sao Paulo.
Construction on the new Itaquera stadium in the city is yet to begin, held back mainly by a dispute over who will pay for its construction.
But Blatter questioned whether Sao Paolo or even Rio de Janeiro, home to the famous Maracana, would be ready for the Confederations Cup in 2013; the traditional rehearsal for the World Cup.
He said: “We have just had the first meeting of the organising committee and it is not decided where the opening match will be played.
“We do not have a stadium ready, neither in Sao Paulo, nor in Rio de Janeiro, so let us wait and see, but the decision on the…stadium is a sporting decision and not a political decision.”
Kassab responded to Blatter’s comments by telling Reuters: “The decision is actually up to FIFA but Sao Paulo is making the best possible effort to host the opening match.”
Sao Paulo’s new stadium was designed after the plans to redevelop the existing Morumbi stadium had to be dropped due to a lack of financial guarantees over its renovation.
The new stadium will host Brazilian giants Corinthians, but they want to build a 48,000 seater stadium, which falls short of the required 65,000 if they want to host the opening match, and negotiations are continuing to determine who will pay for the extra seats.
Other concerns have also cropped up, with a potential legal barrier as planning permission may not be readily forthcoming for the construction of the Itaquera.
And Rodrigo Paiva, speaking on behalf of the Brazilian Football Confederation, spoke to dismiss FIFA concerns about the country’s airports.
“Today, it would be a problem, but from what the Government tells us, it will be resolved in the short term.
“Even though you can’t see any tractors, the situation is under control and on time.”
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