The Mayor of Porto Alegre, in southern Brazil, says his city may drop out of the 2014 FIFA World Cup if key legislation is not approved this week.
Jose Fortunati, the administrator of the Rio Grande do Sul State in southern Brazil, told local station, Radio Gaucha, “there was no plan B” to find the much-needed extra funding required for the Beira Rio Stadium.
He says a bill creating tax breaks for companies investing in temporary structures for the tournament must be voted on on Tuesday.
“If the project is not voted on, we won’t have the World Cup in Porto Alegre. There’s no Plan B, nor C nor Z,” he warned.
The stadium, due to host five matches, is nearly ready for the June tournament, aside construction of temporary structures to house media, sponsors and other requirements by the world football’s governing body, Fifa.
The outside of the stadium is still unfinished
The legislation that allows tax exemptions for firms that invest in the structures was poised to be voted on by the State legislative assembly on Tuesday.
The authorities are not allowed to use public money in structures that will not be used after the World Cup.
Delays in Sao Paulo’s Arena Corinthians- set to host the opening match between Brazil and Croatia- and Porto Alegre’s Beira Rio, has not gone down well with Fifa with just three months to kick-off, says Secretary General Jerome Valcke.
