World cup hosts Russia better organised than Brazil: Blatter
January 21st, 2012 - 6:05 am ICT by IANSSt. Petersburg, Jan 21 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Russia is better prepared now for the 2018 World Cup than Brazil is for the tournament just two years away, FIFA president Sepp Blatter said.
“The tournament organisation in Brazil is not as good as in Russia, even though there is little more than two years left until the Brazil World Cup, and until the Russian one, more than six years,” Blatter said Friday at the centenary celebrations of the Russian Football Union in St. Petersburg.
“Brazil has so many problems, but with Russia everything will be wonderful,” Blatter said.
FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke also blasted Brazil’s approach to organising the event, saying “there is not a single stadium ready today”.
Matches will be played in 12 venues across the sprawling country, with the final in the iconic Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro.
Travel and legal concerns have also plagued the run-up to football’s biggest tournament in its most successful nation.
In contrast with Brazil, Russia has time, money and total governmental support on its side.
The country is building or refurbishing more than a dozen stadiums in preparation for the 2018 World Cup, to be held in 11 cities mainly in the country’s European region.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has said the government is mulling free travel passes for fans for the duration of the tournament, and that national air carriers Aeroflot and Transaero could ferry home fans around the venues for free.
–IANS/RIA Novosti
pm
- Russians may fly for free to Euro 2012: Putin - Jan 20, 2012
- Russia plans to host 2018 FIFA World Cup in 13 cities - May 07, 2011
- Beer may return to Russian stadiums: Putin - Jan 20, 2012
- List of venues for 2018 World Cup to be announced Sep 29 - Sep 05, 2012
- FIFA World Cup delegates visit Samara - Jun 22, 2012
- Putin urges fans to help tourists at World Cup - Jan 20, 2012
- Under-construction World Cup stadium disgraceful, says Medvedev - Sep 01, 2012
- Ronaldo defends Valcke's criticism of Brazil - Mar 09, 2012
- FIFA allocates $699 mn for Russia 2018 - Apr 05, 2012
- Russia's `surprise' bid could ruin England's 2018 dream - May 14, 2010
- Russia launches anti-racism football taskforce - Mar 22, 2012
- Brazil lags 95 percent in 2014 Football World Cup work - May 24, 2012
- FIFA raises 2014 World Cup concerns with Brazil - Dec 17, 2011
- Russia needs fresh blood, says Hiddink - Jul 13, 2012
- England is the easiest place to organise a World Cup: Blatter - Aug 23, 2010
Tags: aeroflot, air carriers, centenary celebrations, free travel, governmental support, home fans, jan 21, jerome valcke, legal concerns, maracana stadium in rio, ria novosti russia, rio de janeiro, rio de janeiro travel, russian football union, sepp blatter, stadiums, time money, tournament organisation, transaero, vladimir putin