Brazil's protests raise fears for World Cup

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Football supporters shoot rubber bullets, the roads into the stadiums are blocked by angry people, mobs are throwing stones at Fifa offices, Confederations Cup signs are being ripped down in the heart of mass protests. These scenes are unlikely to happen in a country that loves football so much and they are the last thing that the organizers of the World Cup wanted to see in Brazil before next year's tournament. However, for the past week, they have happened almost every day and the country's favorite sport has become the focus of the biggest demonstrations in decades. 

More than a million people went in the streets on Thursday night in at least 80 cities. The demonstrations prompt local authorities to request security reinforcements from the national government. The rallies and the violence were not only prompted by the tournament. The initial spark last week was a rise in public transport fares. Public anger has since been worsened by police brutality. Problems that have existed for a long time, such as corruption, dire public services, high prices and low levels of safety are also the target of the demonstrations. But the huge event was the lightning conductor. Many protesters are furious that the government is spending 31 billion reals (£9 billion) to set the stage for a tournament that will only happen once, while it doesn't react to everyday problems.

"I'm here to fight corruption and the expense of the World Cup," said Nelber Bonifcacio, an unemployed teacher who was among the big crowds in Rio on Thursday. "I like football, but Brazil has spent all that money on the event when we don't have good public education, healthcare or infrastructure."

 It was different in 2007 when Brazil was awarded the tournament. Back then, the crowds in Rio were full of joy and Ricardo Teixeira, the president of the Brazilian Football Confederation, was adulated when he said "We are a civilized nation, a nation that is going through an excellent phase, and we have got everything prepared to receive adequately the honour to organize an excellent World Cup." Football belonged in Brazil. In the home of carnival and samba, it would be a party like no other. But euphoria faded away as the preparations for 2014 have drawn attention to the persistent corruption, cronyism, inequality and public insecurity. Those who appeared to have the Midas touch in 2007 now seem cursed.  

What is going to happen next is difficult to predict. The government changed its mind on the bus fare increase, but it is harder to meet the protesters' demands about the World Cup because the funds are mostly spent and the stadiums cannot be unbuilt. More planned marches are going to take place. In a country where football is almost the national religion, people want to enjoy the World Cup, but for millions, Fifa has become a tainted brand, associated with a distant global elite who profit at the expense of local people.

As a banned held by one protester said on Thursday "We don't want a country that is beautiful only for gringos."

Source - Adapted from The Guardian Online

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