FIFA President Sepp Blatter Displeased by Brazil’s Preparations for 2014 World Cup

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has expressed his concern to President of Brazil Dilma Rousseff over the country’s preparations for the 2014 World Cup. 

Tensions have been building between football’s world governing body and the Brazilian Government and has finally come to a head.

President Dilma Rousseff has been quoted in the Brazilian press as having demanded a “frank conversation” with Blatter to discuss the issues.

FIFA has repeatedly warned the the Brazilian organisers about work delays.

It now seems those concerns, surrounding the building of new stadiums and infrastructure around the tournament, extend to FIFA’s legal demands on the host nation, with football’s world governing body expecting to take total control of all aspects of the event.

One sticking point is believed to be the issue of ticket prices.

In Brazil students and elderly citizens get a 50 per cent discount for football matches and other forms of entertainment, and the Government wants the policy to be extended to the World Cup in 2014.

Another issue is FIFA’s refusal to allow non-rights holders to show matches on television, with the Brazilians wanting local broadcasters to be given some limited access.