Brazil’s stadium crisis

In footballing terms, a World Cup in Brazil is beautifully fitting, considering the fact that the last time this footballing nation have hosted the prestigious tournament was back in 1950.

The reality is that things are just not that peachy at the moment. FIFA President Sepp Blatter has recently stated that no other host has taken such a long time to be prepared for the tournament during his tenure. With only six of the original twelve stadiums deemed operational, Blatter has been quick to criticise the Brazilian Sporting Association, who had originally intended to complete all of the stadiums by the end of 2013.

Several issues were cited as the reasons behind the constant delays, such as construction site accidents, worker safety issues as well as financial restraints. Reputations were tarnished even further when three construction workers suffered fatal on-site accidents near the end of the year.

With a crisis in stadiums not the end of it, the 2013 Confederations Cup in Brazil, whilst considered a success, was slightly marred by demonstrations and protests. Justifying the protests is all well and good, however one can only imagine the effect such happenings could have on an event such as the World Cup. FIFA official Jerome Valcke also confirmed that security will be a top priority during the tournament.

As more and more problems seem to arise for the host nation, the term ‘beautifully fitting’ may not seem as fitting anymore. As stated by the FIFA president, Brazil have had seven years’ worth of preparation which is more than any other nation has ever had to prepare for a World Cup, and yet they’re still severely backlogged. Let’s all hope all is done and complete by June, otherwise the world could be in for a shocking realisation.