Blatter moves to calm WCup row with Brazil
Source: Agencies |
March 8, 2012, Thursday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
FIFA President Sepp Blatter apologized on Tuesday for remarks made by Secretary General Jerome Valcke about Brazil's preparations for the 2014 World Cup and plans to fly in to meet with President Dilma Rousseff by next week.
The Brazilian government said that Blatter apologized in a letter to the sports ministry a day after Valcke sent his own apology.
The government had informed FIFA that it would no longer deal with Valcke after he said: "You have to push yourself, kick your (backside)" to speed up the country's preparations.
The government said Sports Minister Aldo Rebelo would first answer the letters from FIFA officials before making his decision public in a few days. The speaker of the House said Brazil is likely to deal with Valcke again.
"He got a red card," Marco Maia told local media. "He is automatically suspended but will eventually return. What is important is that we have a great World Cup."
The Brazilian government said in a statement that Blatter and Rebelo spoke on the phone on Tuesday, and the FIFA president "guaranteed to the minister" that the "Valcke episode" will not happen again. It also said Brazil wants to maintain "an environment of cooperation and harmony" with FIFA.
Blatter asked Rebelo in his letter to set up the meeting with Rousseff. "I would like to meet with President Dilma Rousseff and (Rebelo) as soon as possible, preferably next week," Blatter said.
The Brazilian government said that Blatter apologized in a letter to the sports ministry a day after Valcke sent his own apology.
The government had informed FIFA that it would no longer deal with Valcke after he said: "You have to push yourself, kick your (backside)" to speed up the country's preparations.
The government said Sports Minister Aldo Rebelo would first answer the letters from FIFA officials before making his decision public in a few days. The speaker of the House said Brazil is likely to deal with Valcke again.
"He got a red card," Marco Maia told local media. "He is automatically suspended but will eventually return. What is important is that we have a great World Cup."
The Brazilian government said in a statement that Blatter and Rebelo spoke on the phone on Tuesday, and the FIFA president "guaranteed to the minister" that the "Valcke episode" will not happen again. It also said Brazil wants to maintain "an environment of cooperation and harmony" with FIFA.
Blatter asked Rebelo in his letter to set up the meeting with Rousseff. "I would like to meet with President Dilma Rousseff and (Rebelo) as soon as possible, preferably next week," Blatter said.
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