Brazilian Senate approves key World Cup bill
(BDCi) – The Brazilian senate approved a bill Wednesday giving FIFA the guarantees needed to organize the 2014 World Cup.
The approval came just a day after the Brazilian government met with FIFA officials in Switzerland to discuss the country’s preparations and resolve their differences.
The bill will go before Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, who is expected to sign it.
Congress’ lower house passed the bill in March after several delays, especially over the sale of alcohol inside stadiums, currently against the law in Brazil but FIFA demanded it because Budweiser is a major World Cup sponsor.
The approved legislation doesn’t specifically authorize alcohol sales, but the government says other articles in the proposed law will allow Brazil to fulfill FIFA’s requirement.
Without the text specifically authorizing the sale of alcohol, FIFA theoretically will have to negotiate with a few states which currently have legislation banning alcohol sales inside stadiums, but the government has said such deals likely will not be difficult to achieve. All states signed commitments to FIFA.
By: Natania Levine Courtesy: en.mercopress.com Photo: en.mercopress.com 10 May 2012
9:58 a.m. P.D.T