Confed Cup draws mass protest in Brazil

Protesters continue to march along the streets of Rio de Janeiro, where thousands of people have been demonstrating against the government, whom they are calling on to stop wasting public money on sporting events and bolster investment in healthcare and education.

Demonstrations have swept across Brazil in recent days, with Rio de Janeiro's marchers eager to press home the need to rectify the situation and step up social investment. They have little time for the so-called 'FIFA Standard', whereby stadiums must be upgraded to fall in line with the specifications stipulated by football's governing body.

As a protester told MARCA.com: "We have the seventh biggest economy in the world, but still this is one of the most unequal countries on the planet. Millions of dollars are being invested in sporting competitions, while our children are denied access to quality education and our hospitals are falling to pieces. The absurd amount of money spent on sporting events has been a slap in the face for the Brazilian people".

Another demonstrator, meanwhile, argued that "The 'FIFA Standard' is extremely demanding when it comes to stadiums, but in our hospitals we have doctors who have been hung out to dry, being paid €300-400 a month to take care of a whole load of people. The taxes we pay are used to build stadiums and to look good to the rest of the world, while everything remains in disarray here. The Brazilian people aren't being taken care of. Investing in sport is fine, but healthcare and development can't be forgotten".


/Marca.Com/