Football Federation Australia Concerned Over Security At 2014 World Cup In Brazil

Football Federation Australia CEO David Gallop "has admitted the governing body has concerns over security at next year's World Cup with ongoing violence and civil unrest in Brazil," according to Angela Habashy of the AAP. The Socceroos "recently experienced first hand the nation-wide protests when they played Brazil in Brasilia in September." Much "will depend on the draw" Australia is dealt on Dec. 6, which "will determine what cities the Socceroos will play in and where they'll set up camp, with the small coastal city of Vitoria north of Rio the likely base." But while security planning "will intensify after next month's draw," Gallop admitted that the FFA "was concerned and already had plans under way for the month-long tournament." Gallop: "We've engaged local people in Brazil as well as our own staff who've been through World Cups before. It's certainly going to throw up some challenges and we need to make sure that things are run as smoothly from our end as possible" (AAP, 11/11).