Sepp Blatter Concerned Over Brazil 2014

What is going on with the World Cups right now? Sepp Blatter, the FIFA President recently came out and said he wasn't impressed with Brazil with half of the stadiums failing to meet the December 31st deadline. Yes the World Cup doesn't kick off until June but the fact that the preparations are behind, even though they had seven years to prepare rather than the usual six most countries have, doesn't point to a very successful competition.



Last summer Brazil hosted the Confederations Cup and came in for criticism after widespread protests. These protests are sure to continue during the World Cup in June but with the tournament taking place over a bigger number of venues what assurances of safety can there realistically be?

Blatter may look to Brazil and wag his finger but the fact is that these guys at FIFA do not make good decisions at all. While I understand the need to give certain countries chances to host the biggest tournament in the footballing world, surely certain assurances need to be given before hand.

I wonder if the protests of last year were held before the decision to give Brazil the World Cup was given would that have changed their decision? I doubt it.

Brazil are behind in their preparations but they are only the hosts, where were FIFA throughout all this? There are just too many questions being raised for my liking with this body but at least once we get through to July and the Final everyone can breath easy right? Wrong.

In 2018 the World Cup will be held in Russia who have their own well documented racism issues. The Winter Olympic games start in Sochi next month and we will see just exactly how that carries off. Just recently though Manchester City's own Yaya Toure was subject to racist chants when his side faced CSKA Moscow in the Champions League. That is just the trouble the players might face, but what of the supporters?

It gets even better for the following World Cup with the 2022 Qatari summer weather deemed to hot for the competition to be held during its usual time. Talk now of changing the time the tournament to November means FIFA are willing to mess up numerous domestic leagues just to keep the Qataris happy. Talk of forced labor, heat and social restrictions have not ever brought serious debate about taking the World Cup away from them. Again similar concerns to Russia are there for fans including the discouraging of alcohol etc.

So potentially three doozies of World Cup choices in a row and Mr Blatter may wish to change the name of the governing body to 'Football Is Farcical Again'. I am putting my vote now for Antarctica 2026!!

Jason is a Freelance Soccer Writer. You can follow him on Twitter @PACityboy and www.facebook.com/jasonbardwell1979.