(사진제공=AP)
(사진제공=AP)
(사진제공=AP)
(사진제공=AP)
(사진제공=AP)
[상파울루=AP/KNS뉴스통신] 6일 제프 블래터 FIFA 회장이 발케 총장의 2014년 브라질 월드컵 준비에 대한 발언에 대해 사과하고 다음 주 브라질로 날아가 지우마 호세프 대통령을 만날 것으로 알려졌다.
이번 논란의 발단은 발케 총장이 "브라질은 월드컵 준비를 서두르기 위해 엉덩이를 걷어차야 한다"고 말한 것으로 이것과 관련해 정부는 2014년 월드컵과 관련해 발케 총장과 관계를 끊을 것이라고 공식적으로 FIFA에 통보했다.
알도 헤벨로 체육부장관은 발케 총장의 교체를 요구하고 브라질 정부와 정치권, 축구계도 불쾌감을 표시하고 있다.
현재 브라질에서는 축구장 안에서 알코올음료 판매를 금지하고 있는데 버드와이저가 월드컵 주요 스폰서이기 때문에 FIFA는 알코올음료금지법 수정을 요청했었다.
브라질은 월드컵 유치도시 신청서에 월드컵을 유치하기 위해 FIFA가 요청한 이 법 개정을 받아드리겠다고 약속한바 있다.
그러나 이 알코올음료 판매 금지법의 수정이 늦어지면서 발케 총장의 브라질 월드컵의 준비 소홀에 대한 불만을 표시한 것으로 보인다.
FIFA는 이법이 3월 말부터 효력을 발생할 수 있도록 브라질 의회가 신속히 법안 수정을 마쳐 주기를 바라고 있다.
(영문기사 원문)
Brazil says Blatter apologizes over Valcke remarks
SAO PAULO (AP) — 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 that Blatter apologized in a letter to the sports ministry a day after Valcke sent his own apology.
The government had officially 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.
It remained unclear whether the government would accept the apologies and change its position regarding Valcke.
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 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, who is in Bangladesh to meet with national federation officials, asked Rebelo in his letter to set up the meeting with Rousseff. Blatter was not officially scheduled to travel to Brazil before Valcke's comments, although the Brazilian government expected him to visit the country after a key bill regulating the World Cup is approved in Congress.
"I would like to meet with President Dilma Rousseff and (Rebelo) as soon as possible, preferably next week," Blatter said.
Without directly mentioning Valcke's remarks in his letter released by the sports ministry, in Portuguese, Blatter expressed his "deepest regret" about the situation.
"I'm extremely worried about the deterioration of the relationship between FIFA and the Brazilian government," he said. "My only comment regarding this subject is to apologize to everyone who may have had their honor and their pride hurt, especially the Brazilian government and President Dilma Rousseff."
Blatter said Brazil and FIFA have "a goal in common" and must "work together" to organize an "extraordinary World Cup in the country of football, in the country of champions."
He said that Brazil deserves to host the World Cup which everyone is anxiously awaiting, but warned that "time is passing by" since the country was picked to host football's showcase event in 2007.
"We shouldn't let conflicts make us lose time," he said. "Instead, let's work together to build something bigger, as promised by (former) President (Luiz Inacio) Lula (da Silva) during his term."
Blatter's apology came as congressmen gathered in Brasilia to vote on the World Cup bill, which would give FIFA the necessary legal and financial guarantees to organize the event. A congressional commission approved the bill later Tuesday in a victory to FIFA and the Brazilian government, but it still has to go through the lower house and the senate before reaching Rousseff.
The government said the bill could be voted on in the lower house as early as Wednesday.
The delay by the congressional commission was one of the reasons that caused Valcke to complain about the country's preparations.
Many congressmen attacked Valcke this week for his comments, and resistance by those against the bill was expected to increase had FIFA not apologized.
Among the issues approved by lawmakers was the sale of alcoholic beverages inside stadiums, something that currently is against the law in Brazil but which FIFA supports because Budweiser is a major World Cup sponsor.
When Brazil was picked to host the World Cup, the nation accepted FIFA's demands to make changes to its laws to facilitate the tournament's organization. But the proposed bill has been contentious, with critics saying Brazilians shouldn't bow to FIFA's demands.
FIFA wants the bill to take effect by the end of March, so the country could quickly get on with its preparations for the World Cup and next year's Confederations Cup.
김희광 기자 april4241@naver.com
