World Cup Benefits Outsiders, Say Brazil Protesters

Brazil has many soccer fans, but protesters are questioning the conventional wisdom that massive sporting events deliver widespread benefits for host nations. Instead, the ongoing Confederations Cup has set the stage for protests on Brazil’s cost of living, the poor quality of education and high transport costs. “The initial spark for the protests was a rise in bus fares in Sao Paulo,” reports James Montague for CNN, who adds that the International Federation of Association Football, or FIFA, is emerging as a symbol of corruption and waste. Scrutinizing the large investments for the 2014 World Cup rather than public services, thousands of demonstrators question if the tournament is a source of wealth for foreigners while doing little for the poor. FIFA president Sepp Blatter, as reported by CNN, admits that protesters are “using the platform of football and the international media presence." Police and FIFA try to keep the protestors and conflict away from the stadiums, but the debate in Brazil has captured global attention. – YaleGlobal