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| England match latest in run of problems for Brazil ahead of World Cup | England match latest in run of problems for Brazil ahead of World Cup |
| (4 months later) | |
| After three years of refurbishment work and over a billion reals (£340m) of expense Thursday's ruling that the Maracanã is not ready to host Brazil's friendly with England on Sunday brought the country's worst fears about the preparations for the 2014 World Cup into sharp focus. | After three years of refurbishment work and over a billion reals (£340m) of expense Thursday's ruling that the Maracanã is not ready to host Brazil's friendly with England on Sunday brought the country's worst fears about the preparations for the 2014 World Cup into sharp focus. |
| Although the decision could yet be overruled, the last-minute glitch for what was supposed to be the first professional game to be played at the venue adds to a litany of delays, controversies and embarrassments that have dogged the hosts. | Although the decision could yet be overruled, the last-minute glitch for what was supposed to be the first professional game to be played at the venue adds to a litany of delays, controversies and embarrassments that have dogged the hosts. |
| The England team is already in Rio de Janeiro. Thousands of supporters and journalists are on their way, having spent hundreds of pounds. All are expecting to be part of another historic episode for this iconic stadium. But, if the game is cancelled, their disappointment will pale in significance beside the humiliation and frustration of Brazil's supporters and taxpayers. | The England team is already in Rio de Janeiro. Thousands of supporters and journalists are on their way, having spent hundreds of pounds. All are expecting to be part of another historic episode for this iconic stadium. But, if the game is cancelled, their disappointment will pale in significance beside the humiliation and frustration of Brazil's supporters and taxpayers. |
| The Maracanã has undergone two lavish refurbishments, draining more than 1.5bn reals from public coffers and underscoring the impression that the nation blessed with the world's most successful football team is also cursed by some of the worst corruption and bureaucracy. | The Maracanã has undergone two lavish refurbishments, draining more than 1.5bn reals from public coffers and underscoring the impression that the nation blessed with the world's most successful football team is also cursed by some of the worst corruption and bureaucracy. |
| The stadium was supposed to have been finished at the end of last year but reopening was twice delayed. When Brazil's president, Dilma Rousseff, attended the first test event earlier this month, the domestic media focused on the uneven flooring, a broken lift, turnstiles that failed to work and walls still under construction. Even when the stadium was finally handed over to Fifa on 25 May, work was still going on. | The stadium was supposed to have been finished at the end of last year but reopening was twice delayed. When Brazil's president, Dilma Rousseff, attended the first test event earlier this month, the domestic media focused on the uneven flooring, a broken lift, turnstiles that failed to work and walls still under construction. Even when the stadium was finally handed over to Fifa on 25 May, work was still going on. |
| It is now supposed to be finished but Judge Adriana Costa dos Santos was quoted as saying that the most recent report presented by police, which was provided on Wednesday, "shows that the stadium is still in the phase of construction". | It is now supposed to be finished but Judge Adriana Costa dos Santos was quoted as saying that the most recent report presented by police, which was provided on Wednesday, "shows that the stadium is still in the phase of construction". |
| Delays have become as familiar as cost over-runs. The most recent upgrade has so far cost 1.049 billion reals, 48.8% higher than the initial budget and just inside the 50% cost increase allowed by law, raising accusations that the construction consortium have milked the public purse to the maximum. | Delays have become as familiar as cost over-runs. The most recent upgrade has so far cost 1.049 billion reals, 48.8% higher than the initial budget and just inside the 50% cost increase allowed by law, raising accusations that the construction consortium have milked the public purse to the maximum. |
| The Odebrecht-led consortium attributed the increases to unexpected problems with the giant structure. This explanation raised eyebrows because Odebrecht – one of the country's biggest construction firms –were familiar with the site, given their work on an earlier revamp before the 2007 Pan-American Games. Much of the supposedly unforeseen work had also been anticipated in an earlier study by the US consultancy Booz Allen. | The Odebrecht-led consortium attributed the increases to unexpected problems with the giant structure. This explanation raised eyebrows because Odebrecht – one of the country's biggest construction firms –were familiar with the site, given their work on an earlier revamp before the 2007 Pan-American Games. Much of the supposedly unforeseen work had also been anticipated in an earlier study by the US consultancy Booz Allen. |
| The government has recouped about 20% of the public money spent on the stadium by leasing it to a private sector operator for 35 years, but this also generated controversy. | The government has recouped about 20% of the public money spent on the stadium by leasing it to a private sector operator for 35 years, but this also generated controversy. |
| Ahead of the bid IMX – the entertainment company owned by one of Brazil's richest men, Eike Batista – was hired to conduct a feasibility study on the complex. It recommended demolition of several other facilities inside the Maracanã complex, including the Indian Museum, to increase car-parking space. When the residents were evicted this March, it led to angry protests and complaints against strong-arm tactics by police with tear gas and batons. | Ahead of the bid IMX – the entertainment company owned by one of Brazil's richest men, Eike Batista – was hired to conduct a feasibility study on the complex. It recommended demolition of several other facilities inside the Maracanã complex, including the Indian Museum, to increase car-parking space. When the residents were evicted this March, it led to angry protests and complaints against strong-arm tactics by police with tear gas and batons. |
| The contract was then awarded to a consortium including IMX, AEG and Oderbrecht, prompting further demonstrations and criticism that the company had an unfair advantage over its competitors. Even the normally diplomatic Pelé spoke out against the privatisation, saying the Maracanã "belongs to the people". | The contract was then awarded to a consortium including IMX, AEG and Oderbrecht, prompting further demonstrations and criticism that the company had an unfair advantage over its competitors. Even the normally diplomatic Pelé spoke out against the privatisation, saying the Maracanã "belongs to the people". |
| The problems at the Maracanã are symptomatic of wider concerns about Brazil's World Cup preparations. The quality of design and construction at several venues has been shoddy. Last week a roof partially collapsed at the new Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador because pools of rain proved too heavy for one of the membrane panels. And recent events at two non-World Cup venues suggest there is a wider problem in stadium construction in Brazil. Earlier this year eight spectators were injured when a guardrail gave way at Arena Grêmio Porto Alegre during a match. Most shockingly Rio's Engenhão stadium – which will be used for the 2016 Olympics – was indefinitely closed six years after it was opened due to reports showing winds of 63 miles per hour could rip off a roof that is already suffering from corrosion. | The problems at the Maracanã are symptomatic of wider concerns about Brazil's World Cup preparations. The quality of design and construction at several venues has been shoddy. Last week a roof partially collapsed at the new Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador because pools of rain proved too heavy for one of the membrane panels. And recent events at two non-World Cup venues suggest there is a wider problem in stadium construction in Brazil. Earlier this year eight spectators were injured when a guardrail gave way at Arena Grêmio Porto Alegre during a match. Most shockingly Rio's Engenhão stadium – which will be used for the 2016 Olympics – was indefinitely closed six years after it was opened due to reports showing winds of 63 miles per hour could rip off a roof that is already suffering from corrosion. |
| Several World Cup stadiums are still far from complete. São Paulo's Itaquerão stadium is locked in a dispute with the government over funding and disagreements exist between Odebrecht and the Corinthians club. | Several World Cup stadiums are still far from complete. São Paulo's Itaquerão stadium is locked in a dispute with the government over funding and disagreements exist between Odebrecht and the Corinthians club. |
| Fifa has been incensed by the delays. Its general secretary, Jérôme Valcke, warned last month that the entire World Cup schedule could be changed after hearing about the slow progress at the Itaquerão. Last year he said Brazil needed "a kick up the backside". | Fifa has been incensed by the delays. Its general secretary, Jérôme Valcke, warned last month that the entire World Cup schedule could be changed after hearing about the slow progress at the Itaquerão. Last year he said Brazil needed "a kick up the backside". |
| Heads have rolled and more may follow. Last year Ricardo Teixeira – the former son-in-law of the former Fifa president João Havelange – resigned as head of the Brazilian football federation after allegations that he received kickbacks from World Cup broadcasting deals. His successor, José Maria Marin – who had ties to the military dictatorship that ended in 1985 – is now under pressure. | Heads have rolled and more may follow. Last year Ricardo Teixeira – the former son-in-law of the former Fifa president João Havelange – resigned as head of the Brazilian football federation after allegations that he received kickbacks from World Cup broadcasting deals. His successor, José Maria Marin – who had ties to the military dictatorship that ended in 1985 – is now under pressure. |
| Despite the disputes and delays, Fifa insists that all the stadiums will be ready for the World Cup. The government blames the Maracanã problem on a "bureaucratic error", suggesting Sunday's game may yet go ahead if the problem can be overcome on Friday when Brazil returns to work after a Corpus Christi holiday. But even that may not be the final word. | Despite the disputes and delays, Fifa insists that all the stadiums will be ready for the World Cup. The government blames the Maracanã problem on a "bureaucratic error", suggesting Sunday's game may yet go ahead if the problem can be overcome on Friday when Brazil returns to work after a Corpus Christi holiday. But even that may not be the final word. |
| With questions about some of the building materials, people are predicting that the Maracanã will have to be refurbished all over again so that it is fit for the 2016 Olympics. | With questions about some of the building materials, people are predicting that the Maracanã will have to be refurbished all over again so that it is fit for the 2016 Olympics. |
| • This article was amended on 5 June 2013 to clarify that the Arena Grêmio and Engenhão stadiums are not World Cup venues. | • This article was amended on 5 June 2013 to clarify that the Arena Grêmio and Engenhão stadiums are not World Cup venues. |
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