RIO DE JANEIRO: FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke yesterday insisted football’s world governing body had received no offers from any country to stand in as hosts for the 2014 World Cup with Brazil racing to be ready in time.
“I have never received any official offer from countries around the world to stage the World Cup in 2014,” Valcke said in Rio.
Valcke dismissed fears that Brazil, which is hosting the Confederations Cup dress rehearsal event and has been beset by popular protests against the multi billion dollar cost of hosting the Confederations Cup, the World Cup and the Olympics in 2016, would not make the date as it races to overhaul infrastructure and ready 12 venues across the country.
“We have seen an amazing amount of work delivered for the Confederations Cup,” said Valcke, while stressing once again that for the World Cup “we have to be ready on time - the Confederations Cups is different from the World Cup.”
And he underlined FIFA’s constant insistence that venues “must be ready for the end of December 2013,” allowing logistical final touches to be put in place thereafter ahead of a June 2014 kickoff. AFP
