Protesters might distrupt World Cup Opener -Police

Protesters might distrupt World Cup Opener -Police

Brazilian Police fear protests may disrupt the
opening match of the World Cup between Brazil and
Croatia at the Arena Corinthians in Sao Paulo
tonight .
A number of campaign groups have issued calls on
social media sites for people to take part in protests
ahead of the opening ceremony and first match.
The troubled build-up to the tournament means
there will be a universal sigh of relief when Brazil ’ s
captain Thiago Silva leads his team out against
Croatia to finally get the World Cup underway.
Even Brazil legends such as Ronaldo have been
marked as traitors amidst the restive social scene
All the painful preparations may be put to one side
if those in the green and gold shirts of Brazil satisfy
the demands of the nation.
This should be the spiritual home of football : a
country which has won the World Cup no fewer than
five times , that is associated with the very essence
of everything the tournament should stand for, and
which has not been hosts since 1950 .
World Cup opening ceremonies are not the multi -
million pound spectaculars that have become
associated with the Olympics , but there will be more
focus than ever on Jennifer Lopez , Pitbull and
Brazilian pop star Claudia Leitte performing the
official World Cup song ‘ We Are One ( Ole Ola )’ .
Yet , as Football Association chairman Greg Dyke
pointed out , the atmosphere in Sao Paulo has been
low key.
Dyke said : ‘ The only reason you’ d know there ’ s a
World Cup here is because half the people are on
strike and you can’ t get from the airport.
‘ I’ m told there ’ s all sorts of politics. There is real
concern about the protesters . Some people don ’ t
want Brazil to win because they don ’ t want the
government to get re - elected .’
Organisers struggled to deal with building delays,
the abandonment of transport projects , strikes,
deaths of construction workers , political rivalries
and not least the widespread protests by a public
who has been infuriated by the waste , inefficiencies
and costs associated with this World Cup.
But it has not just been the local organising
committee and Brazilian government whose laxity
has contributed to a barely credible lack of
excitement.
The continuing focus on FIFA’ s governance, the
investigation into the bids for the 2018 and 2022
World Cups , and fresh allegations of corruption have
all also played a part in provoking a degree of
cynicism among scores of the population in the
largest country in South America.
There have been signs of some World Cup fever
building in Rio de Janeiro with fans from Argentina ,
Mexico , Italy and England mixing with home -grown
Brazilians on Copacabana beach .
Now everyone is just waiting for the World Cup to
begin.