Menu
International Football

FIFA's Jerome Valcke Still Concerned About World Cup Preparations In Brazil

FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke ended his latest visit to Brazil "with an upbeat message," according to Tales Azzoni of the AP. Valcke said that in a few weeks "he would be celebrating the start of a successful World Cup by drinking a 'caipirinha' cocktail with Brazil Sports Minister Aldo Rebelo." But it was clear that FIFA's top World Cup official "wasn't fully happy with what he saw in the country, where there was still a lot to be done less than seven weeks before the June 12 kickoff." All 12 stadiums "were supposed to be ready by the end of last year, but three remain unfinished." The Sao Paulo stadium that will host the Brazil-Croatia opener "was still way behind schedule." Valcke: "Yes, Sao Paulo will be ready, last minute, but it will be ready." Valcke arrived at the Arena da Baixada in the southern city of Curitiba, which was nearly excluded from the tournament this year, to find there was "still lots to do inside and outside" the stadium, including the installation of 27,000 seats. Lack of seats "was also a problem" at Arena Pantanal in the wetlands city of Cuiaba because of delivery delays. Valcke gave "a blunt warning" to cities struggling to get their fanfests organized, saying they had "no choice" and faced possible court action from FIFA if they did not fulfil their contracts (AP, 4/26).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 25, 2024

NFL meeting preview; MLB's opening week ad effort and remembering Peter Angelos.

Big Get Jay Wright, March Madness is upon us and ESPN locks up CFP

On this week’s pod, our Big Get is CBS Sports college basketball analyst Jay Wright. The NCAA Championship-winning coach shares his insight with SBJ’s Austin Karp on key hoops issues and why being well dressed is an important part of his success. Also on the show, Poynter Institute senior writer Tom Jones shares who he has up and who is down in sports media. Later, SBJ’s Ben Portnoy talks the latest on ESPN’s CFP extension and who CBS, TNT Sports and ESPN need to make deep runs in the men’s and women's NCAA basketball tournaments.

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Global/Issues/2014/04/29/International-Football/Valcke-Visit.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Global/Issues/2014/04/29/International-Football/Valcke-Visit.aspx

CLOSE