Is it all over? World Cup host city have no cash to finish stadium
THE World Cup has been thrown into chaos with one of Brazil’s host cities ready to pull out because its stadium is not ready.
DOUBTS: Beira-Rio in Porto Alegre is way behind schedule and out of money [GETTY]
The news comes as further doubt was cast over travelling fans’ safety in Rio de Janeiro, where Roy Hodgson’s England team will also stay.
Troops from Brazil’s army are being sent into the city’s slums as tensions between gangsters and police rise, following a string of murders and fire bombings.
Rio’s State Governor, Sergio Cabral, has demanded reinforcements after assaults on police by the city’s biggest crime gang, the Comando Vermelho.
Hundreds of thousands of football fans, and the England team, will pass the notorious Penha and Mare slums on their way to and from Rio’s airport.
The battles were more intense than any time since 2010, when authorities began a “pacification” programme to regain control of communities from gangs.
Five police officers have been killed in Rio since February.
DOUBTS: Beira-Rio in Porto Alegre is way behind schedule and out of money [GETTY]
Porto Alegre, due to hold games involving top teams such as France, Holland and Argentina, dropped the bombshell on tournament organisers yesterday.
The city’s beleagured Mayor Jose Fortunati said the council had run out of money just three months before the biggest show on Earth kicks off.
And Sao Paolo could also quit the tournament because its Arena Corinthians stadium, set to host the opening match on June 12, is behind schedule.
Fortunati said his city cannot cope without extra funding to build facilities for the media and corporate sponsors at the Estadio Beira-Rio.
“If stadiums do not have these areas they cannot host matches under Fifa rules.”
Fortunati insisted there will be no games held in Porto Alegre unless the national government changes its mind and provides more cash.
He said: “If it’s not voted, we will not have a World Cup. There’s no Plan B.”
The unfinished stadium is scheduled to host four group matches and a last-16 clash.“If it’s not voted, we will not have a World Cup”Mayor Jose Fortunati
The news comes as further doubt was cast over travelling fans’ safety in Rio de Janeiro, where Roy Hodgson’s England team will also stay.
Troops from Brazil’s army are being sent into the city’s slums as tensions between gangsters and police rise, following a string of murders and fire bombings.
Rio’s State Governor, Sergio Cabral, has demanded reinforcements after assaults on police by the city’s biggest crime gang, the Comando Vermelho.
Hundreds of thousands of football fans, and the England team, will pass the notorious Penha and Mare slums on their way to and from Rio’s airport.
The battles were more intense than any time since 2010, when authorities began a “pacification” programme to regain control of communities from gangs.
Five police officers have been killed in Rio since February.
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