FIFA’s Executive Committee meeting in Tokyo allowed secretary general Jerome Valcke to provide an update on the preparations for Brazil 2014. While Valcke reported on positive news regarding stadium construction, he admitted that wider infrastructure development and the finalising of the ‘World Cup Law’ is still causing concern.
Brazil recently moved closer to formalising the controversial law that will provide the legal framework for the World Cup, after a bill was drafted by the country’s Congress. 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.
However, there have been concerns from some quarters in Brazil that world football’s governing body should not be allowed to overstep Brazilian law, with ticket pricing proving a particular sticking point. “We are concerned that we have not yet received confirmation of the World Cup bill,” said Valcke on Saturday, according to Reuters. “However, there is a meeting at parliament next week that should approve the bill we agreed back in 2007 with the Brazilian government.”
He added: “There is no doubt that Brazil is not very far advanced, although at the level of the host cities things are working quite well. There remain problems with airports and roads, and there is not much public transport.” Blatter added: “I will myself take up the World Cup in a presidential level and in the first or second month of next year I will go and meet the head of state.”
