Maracana fiasco raises Brazil World Cup and Olympic fears
England friendly match in Rio suspended by judge over stadium safety concerns but then reinstated

A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
Thank you for signing up to TheWeek. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
ENGLAND'S friendly against Brazil in Rio's iconic Maracana stadium will go ahead on Sunday despite a problem over safety certificates that led to a court order suspending the game on Thursday night.
The embarrassing mix-up was the result of a "bureaucratic failure" according to the state government, which admitted it had failed to present the right documents to Judge Adriana Costa dos Santos, who then called off the fixture.
The judge later reversed her ruling after she was presented with a report that showed the stadium did comply with safety guidelines, but the Daily Telegraph described the situation as "a shambles".
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The Maracana, which was once the biggest stadium in the world with a capacity of 200,000, reopened as an all-seater venue for just 79,000 people last month after being closed for refurbishment for almost three years. It was the second rebuilding exercise at the ground this century.
However, the BBC noted that the work finished four months late and local media reported ongoing problems with the venue.
"Days before the first test event at the stadium on 27 April – a friendly featuring former Brazil players – seats were still being installed and pavements laid near the venue," it revealed. There have been reports of "uneven flooring with small gaps and holes, flooding in the VIP area and a dysfunctional lift," while there are said to be loose rocks, stones and pieces of metal all round the venue.
"Building work was in progress yesterday at the stadium and turnstiles were being installed," claimed The Times.
The allegations and confusion over Sunday night's game only serve to heighten concerns over Brazil's preparations for next year's World Cup and the Olympics in 2016.
Earlier this year the Joao Havelange stadium, which will host the athletics at the Olympics and was being used as Rio's main football venue while the Maracana was being refurbished, was shut down indefinitely because of problems with the roof. It only opened in 2007.
The Guardian said that Fifa was "incensed" by the problems. "The quality of design and construction at several venues has been shoddy," claimed the paper, adding that the problems at the Maracana proved that "the nation blessed with the world's most successful football team is also cursed by some of the worst corruption and bureaucracy".
Continue reading for free
We hope you're enjoying The Week's refreshingly open-minded journalism.
Subscribed to The Week? Register your account with the same email as your subscription.
Sign up to our 10 Things You Need to Know Today newsletter
A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
-
Fifa World Cup 2026 expansion: for the global game or for Fifa’s greed?
Talking Point The men’s tournament co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the USA will have a record 104 matches
By Mike Starling Published
-
John Motson dies aged 77: five best Motty moments
Under the Radar The legendary BBC football commentator delivered countless iconic lines in 50-year career
By Chas Newkey-Burden Published
-
The biggest sports scandals of the 21st century
In Depth Lance Armstrong, Tiger Woods and football’s governing body have all shocked the world
By The Week Staff Published
-
Qatar 2022: a tainted World Cup?
Talking Point The most controversial Fifa World Cup yet is ready for kick-off
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Zlatan vs. EA Sports: image rights row breaks out over Fifa video game
Speed Read Milan striker and Spurs star Gareth Bale call for an investigation
By Mike Starling Published
-
European Premier League: radical breakaway plot is revealed
Speed Read Liverpool and Man Utd are reportedly in talks to join new Fifa-backed tournament
By Mike Starling Published
-
Why everyone’s talking about Alex Scott and A Question of Sport
In Depth Scott is being ‘lined up’ to replace Sue Barker as host of the BBC’s sports quiz show
By Mike Starling Published
-
Qatar 2022 World Cup: migrants still at work despite ban on gatherings
Speed Read With 1,000 days to go until the Fifa mega-event, it’s ‘business as usual’ on the crowded construction sites
By The Week Staff Published