
Audio By Carbonatix
Fifa president Sepp Blatter has slammed the pace of Brazil's preparations for this year's World Cup, taking place from June 12 to July 13.
The tournament hosts failed to meet several Fifa deadlines for venues - including the Sao Paulo Stadium where two workers died in November - prompting Blatter's disapproval.
"Brazil has now come to realise that they started too late," Blatter was quoted as saying by 24 heures.
"They are the country who are the most delayed in terms of World Cup organisation since I have been at Fifa, even though they had such a long time [seven years] to prepare."
Last year's Confederations Cup was marred by civilian protests against the costs of the World Cup, amongst other grievances.
Blatter, however, feels it is unlikely Fifa's flagship event will be targeted in a similar fashion.
"I am an optimist, not a pessimist. Football will be protected," he said. "I believe that Brazilians will not attack football directly. This is the sport's home, it's a religion.
"But we know there will be new demonstrations, protests. Last year, they were born of social networks. There was no goal, but at the World Cup they will be more directed, more structured."
Latest Stories
-
2026 World Cup: ‘They were very compact’ – Rice salutes Ghana after England stalemate
22 minutes -
Resolute Ghana earn England stalemate
42 minutes -
2026 World Cup: Resolute Black Stars hold England as Ghana edge closer to Round of 32
49 minutes -
‘It doesn’t add up’ – Minority questions PURC’s tariff increase
2 hours -
High Court affirms ICAG’s sole authority to regulate accountancy profession
2 hours -
A restored banking license difficult to resume operation; once collapsed ends its story
3 hours -
Kojo Mensa-Wilmot – a Molecular Biologist and Parasitologist
3 hours -
THE LAW 101: The burden of proof and the presumption of innocence – Lessons from London
3 hours -
UN says it will evacuate sailors stranded in Strait of Hormuz, as Rubio warns against tolls
3 hours -
Police arrest 186 suspects in major crackdown on human trafficking, organised crime in Ashanti Region
3 hours -
The Inconvenient Truth: Nations do not industrialise by accident—they industrialise by procurement design
3 hours -
Nandom Community Bank records GH₵81.8m asset growth as stakeholders rally for urgent recapitalisation
3 hours -
GIZ, Guinness Ghana sign MoU to boost sorghum output, target 30,000 farmers, 150 jobs in northern Ghana
3 hours -
Partey, Inaki Williams start as Queiroz makes four changes for England clash
4 hours -
LUV FACT-CHECK: NPP did not demand retraction from Kennedy Agyapong over Afari Hospital criticism
4 hours