Brazil World Cup Champ Calls for Hospitals Instead of Cup

[marmar]

(Bloomberg) A member of Brazil’s team that won the 2002 World Cup, Rivaldo Ferreira, took to Twitter this week to support protesters who say the 30 billion reais ($13.3 billion) being spent on next year’s tournament should go to social services.

“It’s shameful to spend so much money for this World Cup and leave the hospitals and schools in such a precarious state,” posted Rivaldo, who said his father was hit by a car and died after failing to receive medical attention in a public hospital. “At this moment we aren’t in shape to host the World Cup, we don’t need it, we need education and health.”

Protests initially staged in response to higher bus fares have expanded to include issues from government corruption to lack of adequate public services. While mayors of Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and other cities rolled back the fare increases, demonstrations are scheduled tonight across the country. The protests are taking place during the FIFA Confederations Cup, which is being played in six new or renovated stadiums.

In a video posted online yesterday, soccer legend Pele called on Brazilians to “forget all this confusion that’s happening in Brazil” and refrain from booing the national squad, which yesterday beat Mexico in Fortaleza. ..................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-06-20/brazil-world-cup-champ-calls-for-hospitals-instead-of-cup.html

[byeya]

1. People in Salvador, Bahia, are protesting because the money is virtually all going to the subway and

not hospitals, bridge repair, water purification systems , etc

[Nye Bevan]

2. Makes sense to me. Why should a poor country like Brazil pay billions for a sporting event?

Let a rich country host it.

[byeya]

3. Brazil got a lot of money from FIFA, the ruling international football ass'n, and it's the

perceived misuse of this money, plus the Brazilian money, that has people upset.