No plans to abandon Confederations Cup as Brazil protests escalate, FIFA insists

FIFA today insisted there were no plans to abandon the Confederations Cup in Brazil despite the protests that have affected the tournament.

Local media claimed the eight-team competition, which includes Spain and Italy as well as the hosts, could be stopped after an estimated one million people protested in cities across Brazil yesterday.

However, a FIFA spokesman said: “To date, neither FIFA nor the LOC (local organising committee) have ever discussed any such possibility.”

The Confederations Cup is a test event for next year's World Cup in Brazil but has become the focus for nationwide protests against rising costs, including bus fares, government corruption and spending on the 2014 tournament.

Police yesterday fired tear gas and rubber bullets at crowds that had broken through barriers in Fortaleza and Salvador, in north-east Brazil. Brazilian broadcaster O Globo said stones were thrown at FIFA’s hotel in Salvador and two windows were broken, and two buses serving the world governing body damaged.

There was also violence in Rio de Janeiro, where protesters stormed the stage of a concert aimed at showcasing the Confederations Cup.

Local media also reported that one of the eight teams was putting pressure on its leaders to pull out of the tournament due to fears for the safety of players’ relatives, but a FIFA spokesman said it was not aware of any such situation.