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Blatter gives Brazil 9.25 out of 10

RIO DE JANEIRO — Brazil got 9.25 out of 10 from FIFA president Sepp Blatter for organising a World Cup that was “very special” because of high quality football, but he also criticised the organisation he heads for not better tackling incidents of fan discrimination in stadiums, the Associated Press reported.

The Netherlands’ 5-1 drubbing of Spain, highlighted by Robin van Persie’s goal, signalled that the Brazil World Cup would be ‘very special’. REUTERS

The Netherlands’ 5-1 drubbing of Spain, highlighted by Robin van Persie’s goal, signalled that the Brazil World Cup would be ‘very special’. REUTERS

RIO DE JANEIRO — Brazil got 9.25 out of 10 from FIFA president Sepp Blatter for organising a World Cup that was “very special” because of high quality football, but he also criticised the organisation he heads for not better tackling incidents of fan discrimination in stadiums, the Associated Press reported.

In delivering his report on the just-concluded tournament on Monday, Blatter also revealed he spoke with Russia President Vladimir Putin at Sunday’s final about making the issue a priority at the 2018 World Cup there. That tournament will be the third consecutive one to involve a huge building project of stadiums and public works in one of the BRICS group of emerging nations.

“We have improved, you have improved, Brazil has improved since South Africa,” said Blatter, who awarded a 9 four years ago to another World Cup which defied doubts and tight deadlines during troubled preparation.

The players and matches have been widely acclaimed in Brazil after so many disappointed in South Africa. Blatter said he knew when the Netherlands beat Spain 5-1 in the tournament’s third match that this time would be different.

“Especially in the second half,” Blatter said, meaning the Dutch team’s four-goal rout of the defending champions. “Something was on in this World Cup, something very special.”

Nevertheless, many Brazilians remain angry at their government for spending an estimated US$13 billion (S$16.2 billion) on the month-long tournament instead of using it to improve the country’s social services and infrastructure. Brazil also experienced severe delays at many of its 12 venues, with work at some stadiums still incomplete days before the tournament started on June 12.

Perhaps keen to avoid a repeat, Blatter has suggested Russia could reduce its list of 12 proposed venues to 10 in talks scheduled for September with the organising committee.

Russia’s Putin-backed World Cup has a US$20 billion budget, including building or renovating 12 stadiums, plus additional rail projects.

“We are in discussions now what is the ideal number,” said Blatter, suggesting a “feasible, reasonable, controllable” project to avoid white elephant stadiums.

Russian organising committee head Alexei Sorokin said after Blatter’s briefing that there had been no talks yet and there were no plans to cut stadiums, though FIFA had the final decision.

On football matters, Blatter said he was “a little bit surprised” to present the Golden Ball trophy for the tournament’s best player to Lionel Messi, whose Argentina team lost the final after he failed to score since the group stage. Blatter suggested how the award is handed out in future World Cups could be reviewed.

The FIFA chief would not be drawn on the merit of a nine-match, four-month ban imposed on Uruguay forward Luis Suarez for biting an Italy opponent. Suarez has completed a transfer from Liverpool to Barcelona and will ask the Court of Arbitration for Sport to freeze the ban during his appeal process.

“I feel that such a punishment hurts, it hurts,” Blatter said.

Blatter also stayed clear on commenting on an investigation by Rio police into alleged ticket scalping involving long-time FIFA commercial services provider MATCH, whose chief executive Ray Whelan surrendered himself to authorities on Monday, reported Reuters.

Said FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke: “I am sure there will be other stories but what you cannot say is that FIFA is not fighting permanently against this business.” AGENCIES

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