By Emilio Rappold Jul 17, 2006, 13:36 GMT
Rio de Janeiro - Local fans digesting Brazil's World Cup debacle in Germany have been confronted with more bad news in the form of doubts as to whether the country is fit to stage the event in 2014.
Brazil are expected to be formally awarded the 2014 event by football's ruling body FIFA but national icon Pele leads the chorus of those warning against such an expensive event.
'We cannot sacrifice people,' warned Pele.
Pele said that a World Cup in Brazil is only tenable if it is financed privately and not by the state.
Brazilian football supremo Ricardo Teixeira has promised big private investment. But, like at all major sports events there is also pressure on the nation's president Luiz Lula da Silva to issue financial guarantees. In addition, the state will have to contribute to infrastructure measures.
Lula seeks re-election later this year. His main dilemma is that he cannot afford to spend major tax income in the wake of a big corruption scandal last year.
Investments will have to be heavy as Teixeira and FIFA boss Joseph Blatter acknowledge that Brazil has to build 10 or 12 new stadiums for the World Cup, given the state of the current arenas.
'Our so-called stars are making millions abroad, are a joke at the World Cup while we have so suffer in stadiums which don't even have a toilet. A World Cup in Brazil? That's a joke,' one fan said in a radio interview, still obviously angry about how the heavy favourites went out in the quarter-finals against France.
But former FIFA boss Joao Havelange insists that Brazil has no choice and that the state must step in.
'Whether Brazil wants it or not. It will host the 2014 World Cup. That is agreed,' he said.
Asked whether Brazil was ready to build the required stadiums, he said: 'Don't ask me, ask the president, the governors and the mayors.'
The 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro could be an indication whether Brazil is ready for the World Cup. Construction for this event is behind schedule and some projects such as subway links have been scrapped.
There is an alleged threat of a joint Argentinian/Chilean bid for the 2014 World Cup even though the regional body Conmebol only wants the 1950 hosts Brazil as a candidate.
Brazil and Argentina are rivals in many aspects including football. Conmebol Secretary General Eduardo Deluca of Argentina showed no major solidarity when he talked about Brazil.
'We believe that Brazil should have started in some aspects (of the World Cup). But there is a lack of political willpower,' he said.
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