Brazil To Offer Cheapest Tickets Ever, Claims Fifa
Next year’s World Cup in Brazil will boast the “cheapest ever” tickets for football’s flagship international tournament, according to the sport’s governing body, FIFA.
FIFA secretary-general Jerome Valcke said that ticket prices, which were due to be announced on Monday but will now be revealed on 19th July, will cost less than in previous events in at least 70% of the matches.
Meanwhile, FIFA President Sepp Blatter joined Valcke in praising the recent Confederations Cup in Brazil, which ended on Sunday with a 3-0 home win for the nation over pre-tournament favourites, and European and World Champions, Spain.
The tournament was marked by protests against the high cost of the World Cup, corruption and poor public services, but Blatter has reiterated that he deems the Confederations Cup a success, despite demonstrations that saw millions of citizens take to the streets.
During the Confederations Cup there have been several clashes between protesters and security forces, who fired rubber bullets, pepper spray and tear gas into the crowds.
Blatter told reporters in Rio de Janeiro: ‘I am happy we come to a conclusion now with a sporting result and the impression that the social unrest is now resting – I don’t know how long for.’
FIFA was one of the targets of the mass protests, who complained that the organisation was gaining profits exempt from tax, while high investment of public funds in preparation for the events would have been better used for hospitals or schools.
Building work at some stadiums was finished shortly before the start of the Confederations Cup amid doubts about whether or not the country would be ready for the World Cup next year, and if the nation’s infra-structure would cope with a large scale event.
