Brazil guarantees 2014 World Cup proper preparations

PanARMENIAN.Net - Brazil reassured FIFA president Sepp Blatter on Friday, March 16 that it will fulfill its commitments in preparing for the 2014 World Cup.

Blatter said he is leaving the country satisfied after a "good meeting" with Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff. He said FIFA and Rousseff agreed to work more closely together to keep work on track, and he is confident Brazil will host the best World Cup in history.

Blatter added that he will deal with the problem involving the Brazilian government and FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke, who was in charge of working with the government. The meeting came two weeks after Valcke made harsh remarks about Brazil's slow preparations.

Brazilian soccer greats Pele and Ronaldo also joined Blatter and Rousseff in the nation's capital. Brazil sports minister Aldo Rebelo, who threatened to cut the country's ties with Valcke, also attended. Pele is a World Cup ambassador and Ronaldo is a member of the local organizing committee.

"I'm happy with the outcome of this meeting," Blatter said. "You will see a smiling FIFA president and we are looking forward to a very good organization here."

He added: "The government will fulfill the requirements and guarantees given, and I trust Brazil."

FIFA had expressed concerns over delays by Brazil's Congress to approve a World Cup bill regulating the tournament and giving FIFA the financial and legal guarantees needed to organize the event.

The sticking point in the bill is the sale of alcohol inside stadiums, which is against the law in Brazil but is demanded by FIFA because Budweiser is a major World Cup sponsor. Despite Rousseff's assurances to Blatter on Friday, it remains up to Brazil's Congress to approve it, The Associated Press reported.