BRAZIL: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - FIFA's Sepp Blatter praying to God for no more construction accidents

Record ID: 836756

  • Title: BRAZIL: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - FIFA's Sepp Blatter praying to God for no more construction accidents
  • Date: 5th December 2013
  • Summary: COSTA DO SAUIPE, BAHIA, BRAZIL (DECEMBER 5, 2013) (REUTERS) SEVERAL OF FIFA NEWS CONFERENCE WITH FIFA PRESIDENT SEPP BLATTER AND SECRETARY GENERAL JEROME VALCKE (SOUNDBITE) (English) FIFA PRESIDENT SEPP BLATTER SAYING: "But there are others that must take responsibilities. This is the state of Qatar. These are all the companies operating in Qatar. These are also the ILO, the International Labour Organization, and all the other NGOs they are running around, all political entities like the European Union bringing a lot of criticism inside that. We have to calm, calm down. This was the words, we calm down now." CAMERAMEN FILMING REPORTER ON LAPTOP (SOUNDBITE) (English) FIFA PRESIDENT SEPP BLATTER SAYING: "It's again a question of trust that it will be done. For the time being there is no plan B and what FIFA can do, FIFA can now send, I would say we would send, ask God, Allah, whoever, that no more accidents shall rise in connection with the World Cup. This is the only thing we can do and hope the construction can be, or the reconstruction, or the rebuilding can start as soon as possible because for the time being it is still under investigation." VARIOUS OF CAMERAMEN FILMING (SOUNDBITE) (English) FIFA PRESIDENT SEPP BLATTER SAYING: "You just said that we are working with the trade union when it comes now to the matter of the 2022 and the protection of the workers is one of the items that we will put on the head of our agenda. If you have not got my information concerning that we need also the help of God, then I'm sorry that I was misunderstood, because this is, even if there is only one worker would be injured, not even dead, it's one too much for any construction of a football stadium." NEWS CONFERENCE FROM SHADOWS OF CROWD CLOSE-UP OF CAMERA VIEWFINDER SHOWING VALCKE (SOUNDBITE) (English) FIFA SECRETARY GENERAL JEROME VALCKE SAYING: "I mean it is already a part of our competition regulations, so that will happen if the referee, or if the medical doctor in the stadium has the feeling that it's important for the health of the player to stop regularly, just for them to have the right to drink, it will happen. When you are talking to me about the fans, I mean, sincerely speaking no, the medical study was on the players and the conditions for the players to play in these different stadiums at these different times of the day, not the fans." VARIOUS OF REPORTERS BUSY WORKING DURING NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) FIFA SECRETARY GENERAL JEROME VALCKE SAYING: "It was, because it's a draw, it should be a draw for all and the draw should apply also for the designation of the team, European team, was to join the other seven teams in the pot 2. So that's why there will be a draw and the draw tomorrow will start by drawing this ninth ball from the pot 4 and to add it to the pot 2 and then we'll start to empty the pot 1. So the first ball drawn will be this European team to join pot 2." REPORTERS PHOTOGRAPHER CLOSE-UP OF CAMERA VIEWFINDER SHOWING VALCKE (SOUNDBITE) (English) FIFA SECRETARY GENERAL, JEROME VALCKE, SAYING: "So, altogether it is $576 million, just to give you an idea. $576 million means that it's 30 percent of the total cost of the World Cup 2014. One third of the cost of the World Cup 2014 is represented by these FIFA World Cup participant contributions. The breakdown for the world champion as you can see is $35 million, for the runner-up $25 (million), third place $22 (million), fourth place $20 million." VALCKE AND BLATTER EXCUSE THEMSELVES AFTER NEWS CONFERENCE18. BLATTER BIDDING FAREWELL AND EXITING STAGE CLOSE-UP OF FIFA 2014 WORLD CUP LOGO
  • Embargoed: 20th December 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Brazil
  • City:
  • Country: Brazil
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA8Q4VA4ZRB5NR06981MNXJU4P7
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  • Story Text: FIFA President Sepp Blatter said on Thursday (December 5) in Salvador, Brazil that he was praying to God that no more construction accidents to occur while he pleaded for calm regarding labour controversies related to the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
    Blatter and colleague FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke fielded questions on various topics Thursday - the final day before the highly-anticipated 2014 World Cup draw is scheduled to occur where the 32 qualifying teams will finally be placed into their first-round groups.
    Blatter took time to address the recent media reports citing rife exploitation of migrant workers in Qatar's construction sector, saying that responsibility for working conditions fell on many and that everyone should remain calm.
    "But there are others that must take responsibilities. This is the state of Qatar. These are all the companies operating in Qatar. These are also the ILO, the international Labour Organization, and all the other NGOs they are running around, all political entities like the European Union bringing a lot of criticism inside that. We have to calm, calm down. This was the words, we calm down now," Blatter said.
    Blatter has acknowledged that he did not vote in 2010 for Qatar to host the finals but the critics have still been quick to bring the complaints to his door as the head of world soccer's governing body.
    The FIFA chief recently fired back when he said that France and Germany should be held to account over the treatment of migrant workers in Qatar because they exerted political pressure to award the finals to the Middle East state.
    But labour issues for the 2022 Qatar tournament have recently taken a back seat to the more pressing issues related to Brazil's late delivery of World Cup stadiums and last week's tragic accident in Sao Paulo that left two construction workers dead after a construction crane fell on one of the new stadium's stands.
    Blatter said he was praying to God that no more accidents occurred while addressing the question of Brazil's lagging attempts to have all 12 stadiums ready in time for the World Cup.
    "It's again a question of trust that it will be done. For the time being there is no plan B and what FIFA can do, FIFA can now send, I would say we would send, ask God, Allah, whoever, that no more accidents shall rise in connection with the World Cup. This is the only thing we can do and hope the construction can be, or the reconstruction, or the rebuilding can start as soon as possible because for the time being it is still under investigation," Blatter said.
    The two construction workers killed had been working on the completion of Sao Paulo's Itaquerao Arena - the stadium expected to host the soccer tournament's opening match.
    Blatter also announced on Thursday that the stadium will not be ready until April 14 or 15, less than two months before the tournament kicks off.
    The announcement came a day after the Brazilian government said the stadium would be ready in February.
    Itaquerao was originally supposed to be ready this month but last week's accident and consequent fatalities set the timetable back.
    Host nation Brazil plans to open the tournament at the Sao Paulo stadium on June 12.
    Their opponents in the prestigious match will be known on Friday (December 6) when the draw is made for the 32-team tournament.
    Blatter said that worker's safety was a priority on FIFA's agenda.
    "You just said that we are working with the trade union when it comes now to the matter of the 2022 and the protection of the workers is one of the items that we will put on the head of our agenda. If you have not got my information concerning that we need also the help of God, then I'm sorry that I was misunderstood, because this is, even if there is only one worker would be injured, not even dead, it's one too much for any construction of a football stadium," Blatter said.
    Another issue FIFA has been forced to respond to recently has been the widespread concern that teams playing in the northeastern Brazilian cities of Fortaleza, Natal, Salvador and Recife in 2014 could be subjected to punishing conditions, with temperatures soaring above 30 degrees.
    Valcke said measures to safeguard players from health risks associated to high temperatures were already in place.
    "I mean it is already a part of our competition regulations, so that will happen if the referee, or if the medical doctor in the stadium has the feeling that it's important for the health of the player to stop regularly, just for them to have the right to drink, it will happen. When you are talking to me about the fans, I mean, sincerely speaking no, the medical study was on the players and the conditions for the players to play in these different stadiums at these different times of the day, not the fans," Valcke said.
    FIFA has already rejected calls to reconsider its decision to schedule noon kick-offs for some matches in tropical venues.
    Beyond controversial matters of construction, labour, and speculation over how players will cope playing in Brazil's heat, the upcoming results of Friday's draw was still the hot topic on everyone's minds.
    Valcke also explained how the draw would begin with one European team being selected to be added to pot 2.
    "It was, because it's a draw, it should be a draw for all and the draw should apply also for the designation of the team, European team, was to join the other seven teams in pot 2. So that's why there will be a draw and the draw tomorrow will start by drawing this ninth ball from the pot 4 and to add it to the pot 2 and then we'll start to empty the pot 1. So the first ball drawn will be this European team to join pot 2," Valcke said.
    Friday's draw will determine how the 32 teams will be placed into their eight first-round groups of four.
    Teams vying for the World Cup trophy in 2014 will have an added incentive when the tournament begins in June with the announcement Thursday that the World Cup money was being increased by 37 percent.
    The 32 teams will share a total fund of $576 million, including a prize-money pot of $358 million with the winners taking home $35 million, a $5 million increase from 2010's tournament.
    Valcke broke down the potential winnings for the top four finishers.
    "So, altogether it is $576 million, just to give you an idea. $576 million means that it's 30 percent of the total cost of the World Cup 2014. One third of the cost of the World Cup 2014 is represented by these FIFA World Cup participant contributions. The breakdown for the world champion as you can see is $35 million, for the runner-up $25 (million), third place $22 (million), fourth place $20 million," Valcke said.
    The four teams eliminated in the quarter-finals will leave with $14 million; teams in the last 16 will receive $9 million; and those eliminated in the first round will get $8 million.
    In addition, each of the 32 finalists will receive $1.5 million for their "preparation costs", up $500,000 in 2010.
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