MOSCOW, May 29 (RIA Novosti) – FIFA Secretary General Jérôme Valcke has expressed concerns over the readiness of a stadium in Brazil’s Natal which is scheduled to host four World Cup matches at this summer’s tournament.
Valcke paid an official visit to Natal, the capital and largest city of Rio Grande do Norte, a northeastern state in Brazil, on Wednesday.
“Just completed visit at Arena das Dunas. Race against the clock. Still lots to be done for WorldCup fans & media. We need full commitment from all parties in Natal to ensure all will be in place & tested prior to MEXCMR [Mexico v Cameroon] on 13/06,” he wrote on Twitter.
The 2014 World Cup in Brazil will take place between June 12 and July 13.
Brazil’s Natal will host four matches: Mexico v Cameroon (June 13), Ghana vs. United States (June 16), Japan vs. Greece (June 19) and Italy vs Uruguay (June 24).
Tensions are running high ahead of the World Cup, with hundreds of demonstrators in Brazil protesting against the cost of staging the tournament.
In the capital, Brasilia, police fired tear gas at anti-World Cup and indigenous demonstrators Wednesday as they attempted to reach the National Stadium – where the golden tournament cup is on display.
Earlier this week, protesters surrounded the bus carrying the national team players from their hotel in Rio de Janeiro to the training camp in Teresopolis. Demonstrators chanted and held anti-World Cup banners, including one that read: ''There will be no World Cup, there will be a strike.''
Russia’s Foreign Ministry Wednesday issued guidelines for Russians planning to attend the World Cup in Brazil. Russia will play against Belgium, South Korea and Algeria in Group H.
The World Cup will be held in 12 cities, including Fortaleza, Rio De Janeiro and Sao Paulo. More than 12,000 Russian fans are expected to arrive in Brazil, according to preliminary estimates.
“Taking into consideration Brazil’s particularity, including the crime rate in the country, the Foreign Ministry of Russia has prepared detailed guidelines for Russian tourists planning to visit Brazil during the championship,” the statement said.
In particular, Russians have been advised against ticket speculation attempts and coming to closed zones of stadiums, as well as carrying objects which can be used for injuring people. Russians have been recommended to be vaccinated against yellow fever, reported in some Brazilian states.
