The dark side of the 2014 World Cup

[Matteo]

As most of us know, next year the World Cup is being held in Brazil, although there is a dark underbelly to the event that the media is neglecting to cover to the extent it deserves. There have been numerous deaths on construction sites where you've got underpaid and overworked labourers building the infrastructure for next year's event. Also, according to various reports, the safety there is appalling, as some of the deaths have been attributed to falling off from large heights and equipment malfunction. There has also been a huge increase in child prostitution and drug smuggling. Girls are being kidnapped by drug gangs and being sold as sex slaves. You also have many areas around Brazil being largely occupied by notorious drug gangs as a way to profit off the popularity of the World Cup.

Here is one tragic story I'd recommend you read: http://tinyurl.com/m6nqv8w

It seems like the World Cup has created nothing but horror for some of the poorer and underprivileged residents of Brazil. The sad thing is, come next year, most of these problems will be either 1) swept under the carpet or 2) pushed away. Brazil seems like a fantastic country, but hosting large-scale international events in nations that are riddled with drug trafficking, child prostitution, and violence is not ideal. It is similar to the Winter Olympics in Russia. Sochi has had problems with extremist fundamentalism and terrorism in the past, so who knows how that will hold up?

Obviously Brazil are keen on making a good impression to the world when the World Cup starts, but it is disgusting the way they are doing it.

[AkydefGoldberg]

There have also been protests by the Brazilians in protest against the WC with people questioning the decision to host it. It's even supported by ex-Brazilian forward Romario, who is now a politician.

I had a skim through that article and alot of the problems that Brazil face (gangs, prostitution, drugs) are ones that its probably had for a while so it's difficult to say whether that would be execerbated by the WC because I can't imagine the Brazilian authorities will let an increase happen with the biggest event in sporting history on your doors.

My concern is the construction of the stadiums, labourers getting underpaid and dying on site. That's a direct consequence of hosting the WC that FIFA/Brazil have to show they are improving. Other issues as sad as they are will always be there.

[PorkChop]

It's obviously a terrible place to host the tournament, but what FIFA says goes. The reason it's in Brazil anyway is mainly due to a load of under-the-table payments, same reason why Qatar is an awful place to host the one in 2022.

[Chewy]

It's no different to most of the third world countires in the world.

FIFA are just so out of touch with reality that they still think Happy Days is a brand new show.