Brazil is a screwed up place...

[Titanxman04]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1830745-brazilian-footballers-decapitated-head-reportedly-sent-to-wife-by-drug-lords?utm_source=cnn.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=editorial&hpt=hp_t2


So some folks thought having the Olympics AND the World Cup was a grand idea in this screwed up, violent country. I cannot fathom how impossibly screwed up things can get if Brazil loses early in the Cup.

[casualfan]

This one is even more ridiculous (http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/07/07/brazil-soccer-referee-killed-during-match-his-head-displayed-on-stake-midfield/)

[Titanxman04]

This one is even more ridiculous (http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/07/07/brazil-soccer-referee-killed-during-match-his-head-displayed-on-stake-midfield/)

Knew about that and it was referenced in the article I posted. Insane. People are actually going to travel there to support their countries and end up being kidnapped and held for ransoms and killed.

[LadyMuskie]

Look at it this way . . .if you survive the Brazil games, you get to go on to Japan and roll the dice at getting radiation poisoning and/or any number of radiation related diseases. There's nothing but upsides!

[ammtd34]

Don't worry, it'll all be better in 2018. (http://www.businessinsider.com/spartak-moscow-fans-riot-display-nazi-flag-in-russia-video-2013-11)

Unless you're black or gay. (http://gawker.com/what-the-hell-is-going-on-with-russia-and-gays-an-exp-926183504)

[Titanxman04]

Don't worry, it'll all be better in 2018. (http://www.businessinsider.com/spartak-moscow-fans-riot-display-nazi-flag-in-russia-video-2013-11)

Unless you're black or gay. (http://gawker.com/what-the-hell-is-going-on-with-russia-and-gays-an-exp-926183504)

Listen, I'm not about trying to use these events to change national policy, and someone, somwhere, will be pissed no matter what you do. However, these countries that have such unrest during events like these is a oke and don't deserve to have these kind of international events. Italy shouldn't host a World Cup until they get their racism under control. Brazil has major crime issues (Mexico would freak me out as well). Russia seems to have a lot of civil unrest.

And Qatar?!? Yeah, can't wait to see how the locals accept and welcome the Brazilian women coming to support their national soccer team in those skimpy outfits. Or how beer will be sold at and around stadiums. I'm sure nothing bad will come from that.

[GuyFawkes38]

Listen, I'm not about trying to use these events to change national policy, and someone, somwhere, will be pissed no matter what you do. However, these countries that have such unrest during events like these is a oke and don't deserve to have these kind of international events. Italy shouldn't host a World Cup until they get their racism under control. Brazil has major crime issues (Mexico would freak me out as well). Russia seems to have a lot of civil unrest.

And Qatar?!? Yeah, can't wait to see how the locals accept and welcome the Brazilian women coming to support their national soccer team in those skimpy outfits. Or how beer will be sold at and around stadiums. I'm sure nothing bad will come from that.

Links?

I love Italy. It's one of the safest countries on earth (I felt safer in Italy than any country I've traveled in including the US). Sure, there might be racism during soccer matches, but isn't that more of a soccer problem than an Italian problem.

[GoMuskies]

And Qatar?!? Yeah, can't wait to see how the locals accept and welcome the Brazilian women coming to support their national soccer team in those skimpy outfits. Or how beer will be sold at and around stadiums. I'm sure nothing bad will come from that.


My guess is none of that will be an issue. You're talking about Qatar, not Saudi Arabia.

[ThrowDownDBrown]

People like you said the same kind of things about South Africa four years ago. As long as you're not an idiot both the world cup and the olympics will be fine to attend in Brazil with little to no risk of harm, just like it was in South Africa. Now the billions of dollars of debt Brazil is bringing on by hosting these two events, that's a whole different issue

[Titanxman04]

People like you said the same kind of things about South Africa four years ago. As long as you're not an idiot both the world cup and the olympics will be fine to attend in Brazil with little to no risk of harm, just like it was in South Africa. Now the billions of dollars of debt Brazil is bringing on by hosting these two events, that's a whole different issue

I actually was excited about South Africa.

[blobfan]

People like you said the same kind of things about South Africa four years ago. As long as you're not an idiot both the world cup and the olympics will be fine to attend in Brazil with little to no risk of harm, just like it was in South Africa. Now the billions of dollars of debt Brazil is bringing on by hosting these two events, that's a whole different issue

I missed the stories leading up to the World Cup in South African that talked about locals specifically attacking people and events related to the games. That's what's going on in Brazil, according to national news.

[Titanxman04]

Links?

I love Italy. It's one of the safest countries on earth (I felt safer in Italy than any country I've traveled in including the US). Sure, there might be racism during soccer matches, but isn't that more of a soccer problem than an Italian problem.

The racisma t soccer matches is unbelieveable. It's a place where these idiots can get together and shout out their shit for the other fans and players to hear. They verbally harrass their own countrymen when they play on their national or club teams. ESPN had a fantastic article about it. But yes, it's much worse than over here. That kind of behavior wouldn't last a minute state-side. I'm not saying that there isn't racists out there. We all know that isn't true. But in the United States, at least they keep that crap away from the stadiums.

Racism isn't a soccer problem. To assume as such is assinine. If Italy had the NFL, the MLB, or any other major sport that was as popular over there, those sad excuses for human beings would show up and do the same thing over there. But soccer is the largest sporting event in Italy. Those asshats go there.

[ammtd34]

Links?

I love Italy. It's one of the safest countries on earth (I felt safer in Italy than any country I've traveled in including the US). Sure, there might be racism during soccer matches, but isn't that more of a soccer problem than an Italian problem.

Stabbed for being Tottenham fans. (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2236739/Tottenham-fans-stabbed-Rome-ahead-Lazio-match.html)

This isn't shit talking or even fighting. Can you imagine going to Clifton before the Crosstown Shootout and ambushing a UC bar just because UC fans were there?

Qatar, meanwhile, is building its infrastructure using forced labor. (http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/25/revealed-qatars-world-cup-slaves)

[xubrew]

People like you said the same kind of things about South Africa four years ago. As long as you're not an idiot both the world cup and the olympics will be fine to attend in Brazil with little to no risk of harm, just like it was in South Africa. Now the billions of dollars of debt Brazil is bringing on by hosting these two events, that's a whole different issue


Most of the problems in South Africa didn't have to do with the fan experience. It had to do with the logistics of bringing first world stadiums and hotels to a country that didn't really have them, and how the workers were treated in the process. The event itself was fine. South Africa had hosted events such as the Cup of Nations and the Rugby World Cup. Although those aren't as big as the FIFA World Cup, they are still big events and RSA did just fine with them.

Brazil is completely different. They've only hosted Copa America once since 1949. If COMNOBOL doesn't want to put Copa America there, that should be a red flag to FIFA that putting the World Cup there may not be the best idea.

Unlike the 2009 Confederations Cup in South Africa, the one in Brazil this past summer was a disaster. The transportation is shitty when it comes to getting people around the city, much less from one city to another. Fans who bought tickets and flew in could not even get to the games.

In their bid to get the WC, they included adding a lot of infrastructure that has not been added. They're now telling fans that the best thing to do is to travel to one city and just go to the games in that city. That's horrible. People can't even follow their own country's team around because they literally cannot get from one place to another.

Protesters have made it known that they have no issues with beating fans up in order to more emphatically make their point.

And, on top of that, they occasionally cut people's heads off and either mount them on stakes or place them in boxes.

FIFA won't do it, but they should take the World Cup out of Brazil. The country said they'd have things in order, and they clearly do not. RSA did. The two situations are not even comparable. They should have pulled the plug after the Confederations Cup on the grounds that they made a complete mess of the Confederations Cup.

[Titanxman04]

Most of the problems in South Africa didn't have to do with the fan experience. It had to do with the logistics of bringing first world stadiums and hotels to a country that didn't really have them, and how the workers were treated in the process. The event itself was fine. South Africa had hosted events such as the Cup of Nations and the Rugby World Cup. Although those aren't as big as the FIFA World Cup, they are still big events and RSA did just fine with them.

Brazil is completely different. They've only hosted Copa America once since 1949. If COMNOBOL doesn't want to put Copa America there, that should be a red flag to FIFA that putting the World Cup there may not be the best idea.

Unlike the 2009 Confederations Cup in South Africa, the one in Brazil this past summer was a disaster. The transportation is shitty when it comes to getting people around the city, much less from one city to another. Fans who bought tickets and flew in could not even get to the games.

In their bid to get the WC, they included adding a lot of infrastructure that has not been added. They're now telling fans that the best thing to do is to travel to one city and just go to the games in that city. That's horrible. People can't even follow their own country's team around because they literally cannot get from one place to another.

Protesters have made it known that they have no issues with beating fans up in order to more emphatically make their point.

And, on top of that, they occasionally cut people's heads off and either mount them on stakes or place them in boxes.

FIFA won't do it, but they should take the World Cup out of Brazil. The country said they'd have things in order, and they clearly do not. RSA did. The two situations are not even comparable. They should have pulled the plug after the Confederations Cup on the grounds that they made a complete mess of the Confederations Cup.

This.

It's just a screwed up country.

[GuyFawkes38]

The racisma t soccer matches is unbelieveable. It's a place where these idiots can get together and shout out their shit for the other fans and players to hear. They verbally harrass their own countrymen when they play on their national or club teams. ESPN had a fantastic article about it. But yes, it's much worse than over here. That kind of behavior wouldn't last a minute state-side. I'm not saying that there isn't racists out there. We all know that isn't true. But in the United States, at least they keep that crap away from the stadiums.

Racism isn't a soccer problem. To assume as such is assinine. If Italy had the NFL, the MLB, or any other major sport that was as popular over there, those sad excuses for human beings would show up and do the same thing over there. But soccer is the largest sporting event in Italy. Those asshats go there.

Of course, this type of stuff doesn't occur at American soccer matches. I should have said Western European soccer.

I'm sure an Italian can build a case against England soccer fanatics rather easily (starting with this, of course, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heysel_Stadium_disaster).

There is a long history of racist, far right soccer hooliganism in England.

[Titanxman04]

Of course, this type of stuff doesn't occur at American soccer matches. I should have said Western European soccer.

I'm sure an Italian can build a case against England soccer fanatics rather easily (starting with this, of course, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heysel_Stadium_disaster).

There is a long history of racist, far right soccer hooliganism in England.

Didn't say there wasn't. However, I think that if there's a huge social issue that is plaguing your country, then you ought not to have the World Cup. There are plenty of great countries to host the event without such issues. By all accounts, Germany, South Africa, France, and Korea/Japan did a pretty fantastic job hosting (at least by my knowledge). Why put this thing in countries where it's all sorts of screwed up and can put spectators AND teams at risk?

[GuyFawkes38]

Didn't say there wasn't. However, I think that if there's a huge social issue that is plaguing your country, then you ought not to have the World Cup. There are plenty of great countries to host the event without such issues. By all accounts, Germany, South Africa, France, and Korea/Japan did a pretty fantastic job hosting (at least by my knowledge). Why put this thing in countries where it's all sorts of screwed up and can put spectators AND teams at risk?

I do generally agree (except, I think Italy would be a fantastic place to have a World Cup...great transportation, food, historical sites, wine, coffee, etc.).

It does suck that soccer fans have to stress about crime in Brazil and South Africa. Yes, why not have the World Cups in safer countries.

[blobfan]

I do generally agree (except, I think Italy would be a fantastic place to have a World Cup...great transportation, food, historical sites, wine, coffee, etc.).

It does suck that soccer fans have to stress about crime in Brazil and South Africa. Yes, why not have the World Cups in safer countries.
I don't think you can put Brazil and South Africa in the same bucket. I think they did a pretty good job protecting people there for the event. It will be a while before they are able to control it away from business/tourist districts but I haven't heard reports of kidnappings or on-field violence lately.

From May 2010 (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/7748717/World-Cup-2010-crime-threat-to-visitors-is-exaggerated.html)

in almost 80 per cent of murders, the victim and killer are known to each other – in other words, it is within a social context that poses no direct threat to strangers.

Sounds like South Africa has more in common with the US than Brazil in this instance.

From July 2010 (http://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/jul/09/world-cup-football-south-africa-crime-falls)

Sceptics predicted the World Cup would be a boom time for criminals in South Africa. In fact, the football appears to have led to a dramatic fall in violent offences.

A report by ADT, a private security firm, said crime was down by 70% in western Johannesburg, while the east of the city saw a 60% decline in the past month.

[xubrew]

Listen, I'm not about trying to use these events to change national policy, and someone, somwhere, will be pissed no matter what you do. However, these countries that have such unrest during events like these is a oke and don't deserve to have these kind of international events. Italy shouldn't host a World Cup until they get their racism under control. Brazil has major crime issues (Mexico would freak me out as well). Russia seems to have a lot of civil unrest.

And Qatar?!? Yeah, can't wait to see how the locals accept and welcome the Brazilian women coming to support their national soccer team in those skimpy outfits. Or how beer will be sold at and around stadiums. I'm sure nothing bad will come from that.

I pretty much 100% agree with this.

To me, it's even simpler than that.

Do your trains run on time?? (Both literally and metaphorically). Brazil's do not. Qatar, at the moment, has no trains. Or cities. Their plan is to build all that. All they need to do is build the stadiums and hotels, then the cities in which the stadiums and hotels are located, then the roads and trains to take people to the stadiums that have not been built that are located in the cities that have not been built.

Russia is better, but not by much.


Seeing that this is the "World" Cup, are you able to (and willing to) open your doors and host people from places and cultures that are very different from your own?? Qatar is not the most tolerant place in the world. Russia isn't either.

Can you keep people safe?? Brazil cannot.


If you cannot do all three of things (have your trains run on time, be open to other cultures, and keep people safe) you should not host this event. Period. Brazil is grossly deficient in two of those three categories.

[Titanxman04]

What bothers me with Qatar is that the head of FIFA is from Qatar. Which is all well and good, but the rumors and evidence of corruption is blatent. The USA was the favorite to host the WC...and Watar won it?!? We are set up and prepared to host such an event and be able to succeed in doing so. We have shown that we can. But Qatar up and wins the bid? It's great that you say you're going to build the infrastructure to successfully host it. And more power to you for trying to bring money into your country. But to say that a country that isn't equipped to host an event half it's size, is going to host an event of that magnitutde, is insulting to FIFA and how these things are selected.

And does anyone else have an issue that the summer Olympics in Brazil will be during their winter?

[Porkopolis]

What bothers me with Qatar is that the head of FIFA is from Qatar.

Actually the president of FIFA is Swiss. But that is even better as he cares about one thing and one thing only: his personal bank account.

[ammtd34]

Well, Zidane was payed $15,000,000 (http://www.arabianbusiness.com/zidane-was-paid-15m-support-qatar-bid-report-365745.html) by Qatar for supporting their bid. You know, the French son of Albanian immigrants. He's so passionate about Qatari soccer.

[X-band '01]

And does anyone else have an issue that the summer Olympics in Brazil will be during their winter?

It didn't affect Sydney all that much back in 2000.

[paulxu]

I just knew climate change would rear its ugly head in this thread.

[Snipe]

Brazil is a vibrant multi-cultural paradise.

[xubrew]

Brazil is a vibrant multi-cultural paradise.

Which is why there will be no problems and why everything will run perfectly to everyone's satisfaction.

[paulxu]

They seem to have a lot of fun during that Carnival thing.

[xubrew]

At Carnival they get drunk and celebrate the good times.

At soccer games they get drunk and get pissed off and beat the shit out of one another.

[Titanxman04]

At Carnival they get drunk and celebrate the good times.

At soccer games they get drunk and get pissed off and beat the shit out of one another.

Thats if you're lucky. The officials even will stab you.

[xubrew]

Thats if you're lucky. The officials even will stab you.

Yeah, but 90% of the time no one gets stabbed, so it's all good.

[Mel Cooley XU'81]

My son and his bride (brainy Miami-types) honeymooned in Brazil over the summer.

By all accounts, a grand time was had by all.

[xubrew]

Anybody else been following the qualifying??

The Bob Bradley Era is over in Egypt. They played in front of fans today for the first time since group play of qualifying began. They had just been playing in empty stadiums. They won the game, but lost the aggregate.

Burkina Faso is a good team. They've never been to the World Cup, but they made the finals of the Cup of Nations and lead Algeria 3-2 going into today's game. Watching that right now. It's a very ugly crowd. Hopefully Burkina Faso can hold on.

Iceland is tied with Croatia going into today. I'd love to see them do it, but I don't think they will.

I've given up on New Zealand. They're down 5-1. Would have loved to see them do it, especially with the second leg being in New Zealand. I don't know which I wanted more. To see New Zealand make it, or to see Mexico not make it. New Zealand was in the last one, and they had some of the greatest fans.

I have no rooting interest in the other three games.

[LA Muskie]

And does anyone else have an issue that the summer Olympics in Brazil will be during their winter?
Well, for 1/2 the world at least...

[GoMuskies]

This doesn't seem promising: http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1630257/part-stadium-hosting-world-cup-opener-collapses?cc=5901

[xubrew]

If this is a catastrophic failure, I'll be watching from afar.

[waggy]

Not sure, but it reads as if a crane collapsed on to the building, not a situation where the building just came down on its own.

[ammtd34]

Not sure, but it reads as if a crane collapsed on to the building, not a situation where the building just came down on its own.

This picture would seem to corroborate that.

http://media2.s-nbcnews.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/131127-brazil-world-cup-jsw-1248p.photoblog600.jpg

[Masterofreality]

Isn't that the place that originated "Brazilians" .

If so, I agree. it is screwed up for messing with nature.

[ammtd34]

At least 1 dead in this riot today. Warning: Extremely graphic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xo3FTMCtG6Y&feature=youtu.be&a%5BV

[Porkopolis]

At least 1 dead in this riot today. Warning: Extremely graphic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xo3FTMCtG6Y&feature=youtu.be&a%5BV

Makes me glad to live in America. We have idiots, but not in the quantity of a lot of other countries.

[bleedXblue]

Note to FIFA

Bring the Cup back to the US....its well past its time !!

We have the infrastructure, ease of travel, wonderful places to visit......whats there not to like ?

[GoMuskies]

whats there not to like ?

Bribery is frowned upon here.

[paulxu]

If we win the group G thing, then we go to Brazil?
Wonderful.
Fans can go down and get a taste of the pussycat foot stomp in the stands.
Bonus: they even have something that's still called a "Shootout" in soccer. Maybe they should change it to Classicout. Then have reflection sessions.
Bummer: pretty sure no Skyline in Brazil.

[ammtd34]

If we win the group G thing, then we go to Brazil?
Wonderful.

No, we're going to Brazil in order to play in Group G.

[Muskie]

Not to mention that we get to play in a stadium built in the middle of the rainforest/jungle. It apparently gets so hot there. Steel buckles from the heat.

[ammtd34]

Not to mention that we get to play in a stadium built in the middle of the rainforest/jungle. It apparently gets so hot there. Steel buckles from the heat.

FIFA has already changed some of the match times so the games aren't so hot.

[Titanxman04]

I think it's also screwed up that the US travels more than any other country during the World Cup. Over 9000 miles. Stupid.

[paulxu]

No, we're going to Brazil in order to play in Group G.

This may not end well.

[Muskie]

FIFA has already changed some of the match times so the games aren't so hot.

I'm not sure there is any "good" time to play at that stadium.

[Smooth]

Killed by a toilet.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/soccer/brazilian-soccer-fan-killed-toilet-bowl-thrown-stands-article-1.1778364

[xubrew]

What everyone was expecting to happen for the last six years, and in particular what we were expecting to happen after last summer's debacle at the Confederation's Cup....is happening. Brazil cannot handle this.

The World Cup starts today. A closed scrimmage between the United States and Belgium was cancelled due to an inability to handle the traffic. IT WAS A CLOSED SCRIMMAGE!!!! If they can't handle traffic when no one is going to a game, how the hell are they going to handle it when a game is sold out??

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/brazil-world-cup-special-344-km-traffic-jams-dengue-incomplete-stadia/1/366466.html

So, there are 200+ mile traffic jams of people trying to get to a stadium that they haven't finished building yet. There are 20,000 something people who have tickets, but won't have seats. They haven't finished putting them in yet. So, they're going to use temporary seating and have a stadium with 25,000 beyond what is considered to be a safe capacity.

They should have pulled it last summer. Brazil said they'd have everything in place, and they didn't. End of it. They breached the contract and the agreement by not completing the work that they said they'd complete. They are without a doubt the least capable country that has ever hosted an event like this.

So, here is my proposal. If there are any problems that are the result of Brazil not having their shit together, then Brazil should be out of the World Cup. Even if they win the group. I'm half kidding, but I'm only half kidding.

[xu82]

That is amazing. It would be unacceptable to have projects that are unfinished, but how do you have so many projects that never even got started? How do you explain that? "After seven years we never quite got around to starting that..." Dumping Brazil from the WC would get pretty exciting, but the best plan is to disband FIFA and start from scratch. They are a non-profit with a billion dollar reserve fund. As long as they get theirs the soccer is apparently irrelevant. And I move that we all share the billion dollars. Any seconds?

[coasterville95]

And just think - in two years these same clowns get to host the Summer Olympic Games. Sure, the Olympic building projects come down to the last second (see Sochi), but at least they are presentable when the players and fans start arriving.

[xu82]

I suppose never started is better than half done and never used to be forever abandoned. They can use the money they save to not build things for the Olympic Games.

[MADXSTER]

At some point FIFA will go away. And you can say you heard it here first.