FIFA SERIES: THE SITUATION IN BRAZIL

With the much awaited FIFA World Cup in full swing, most international viewers are absorbed in the on-field action- completely oblivious to the big picture. The World Cup has adversely affected both the Brazilian citizens and the government. The investments poured in by the government to orchestrate this year’s “much-awaited event” have caused mass protests in Brazil, that have not only resulted in  the loss of lives, but forced the government into highly expensive peace-keeping measures, further endangering the economy. 

The World Cup is expected to generate a profit of above $3 billion that was considered to be able to greatly stabilize the Brazilian economy and maybe even give it a large boost; however, what escapes this optimistic assessment is that the Brazilian government has already spent over US$11.5 billion into the tournament.  The protests are not entirely a surprising affair- the general discontent had sprouted in another tournament last summer, when people rioted and protested against problems ranging from the over-expenditure of the government, corruption, tax breaks given to FIFA, to increased bus fares. It is important at this moment, to consider that there have been serious social indirect costs of the World Cup as well-  an average of one construction worker a month has died while working on the various construction related projects of the tournament,  much like the issues that have arisen in Qatar.

Due to increased criminal activity in the hosting country, Brazilian authorities had launched “Operation Pacification”. With both criminal activity and civil disobedience at rise, the government is currently spending $855 million on strengthening national security. This coupled with the lavish expenditure on FIFA World Cup has crippled the Brazilian financial system. Implications are explicit while the Brazilian economy continues to plunge, and the average Brazilian is left with more than a bitter taste of the world’s football celebrations.  The protests have sadly culminated into many violent clashes between the authorities and the protesters, costing more than 10 deaths and over 200 serious injuries with more than 400 arrests.

While the origins of these riots are certainly pre-World Cup, the effects are certainly far-reaching and damaging.  The celebration of one of the most celebrated sport and its biggest event, are marred by bloodshed, discontent and an air of mass disobedience. Within our modern society and its extensive, comprehensive social charters, we should certainly realize that no medium of entertainment, however celebrated, should impact the general populace so adversely. It is not unknown for hosting countries to encounter financial issues while hosting tournaments as large as the FIFA World Cup, but for such events to cause such mercurial change in the general atmosphere and impair peace is certainly too great a cost for a tournament which could just as easily be held in a more stable country.  One can only hope that football fans and organizers alike would rally against such arrangements in the future, and a more humanitarian vision will be adopted in organizing such mega events for football or otherwise. 

                                        

By: Rabab Ahsan