The 71-year-old icon of Brazilian football serves as the honorary global ambassador for the World Cup, but has been forthright in his views regarding the state of work in his home country. Pele has expressed his surprise with some of the delays in the 12 host cities, but he is adamant that President Dilma Rousseff will not let Brazil fail.
“It was scary,” he said of the state of preparations, according to the Associated Press. “It is sad and it worries me that we have to go through this even though we knew eight years ago that the World Cup was going to be held in Brazil.” He added: “It seems everything is being solved, there are some delays but I’m certain that everything will be ready. We have problems with transportation and communications, but the government will do everything necessary to get things ready.”
Meanwhile, Pele has defended FIFA over its stance in the ongoing row regarding the World Cup law. FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke on Tuesday urged Brazilian politicians to quickly approve the law establishing the legal framework for the 2014 World Cup, stating: “We can’t lose a single day.” Valcke addressed a congressional committee about the controversial law, which has caused considerable debate in Brazilian political circles.
The new law would regulate commercial rights, alcohol sales and advertising rules for the tournament and rubber-stamp the final commitments Brazil’s federal government made to FIFA in its bid to host the World Cup and the 2013 Confederations Cup. Pele said: “FIFA cannot be blamed for anything. This is not new for the Brazilian government. It accepted all of these demands, now it has to find a solution and I know that it will find it.”
