This is a huge blow to Brazil’s LOC for the World Cup as their chairman Ricardo Texeira quit Monday as the head of the Brazilian Football Federation and the 2014 World Cup organising committee on health grounds.
Brazil have in the past few weeks come under intense scutiny by FIFA for what the football body considers falling behind on major projects. Sure the World Cup is 2 years away, however, with the Confederations Cup a little over a year away, Brazil are ill prepared for both tournaments.
Officials who toured the country last week raised concerns over the stadium in Porto Alegre which ceased work for 8 months over unclear reasons. In fact, what is more interesting is club Internacional saying that though they had yet to sign a contract that would oversee the renovation of the stadium, they were committed to the whole process.
This comes after FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke was quoted as saying that the organising committee needed “a kick up the backside” if they were to get building work back on schedule, comments that were certainly not taken lightly by both the LOC and the public.
The stadium is expected to be completed by December this year.
That said, news of Texeira’s stepping down is bound to be a blow for both FIFA and Brazil. A statement from CBF read:
“I leave the presidency of the CBF (national federation) permanently with the sense of mission accomplished.
“It’s not easy to preside passion. Football in our country is associated with two things: talent and disorganisation. When we win, talent is praised. When we lose, it’s about disorganisation. I did what was within my reach, sacrificing my health. I was criticised in the losses and undervalued in the victories.”
It is not known what effect Texeira’s exit will have on the Brazilian football scene, but it is believed that things are bound to get a bit harder for the World Cup hosts.
Photo Credit © Ministério do Esporte
