Curitiba World Cup venue may be dropped, says FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke

Rio de Janeiro Curitiba risks being dropped as a venue for this years World Cup finals if work on the stadium there fails to make significant progress FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke said on Tuesday We cannot organise a match without a stadium this has reached a critical point said ValckeDec 14 2013 The Arena da Baixada venue in CuritibaValcke who has not held back from making critical remarks about preparations in the host nation during the leadup to the finals said he hoped rapid progress would be made so that Curitiba would not miss out on hosting matchesCuritiba is set to host four group matches including the meeting of holders Spain and Australia What is there to say said Valcke speaking after paying a visit to the stadium It is a delicate question But let us be frank and direct about itAs you must know the present situation at the stadium is not to our liking Not only is it very behind in its construction but it has failed to meet any of the deadlines set by FIFA It is not that we want the stadium to be ready by February 18 but simply that we want to see progress made by the time of the next FIFA evaluation visitA lot of people want to come here the World Cup holders have to play here said Valcke who was roundly criticised by the Brazilians after last year indelicately suggesting the country needed a kick up the backsideWe hope therefore that the conversations we have had with the State Government and the Curitiba city council will produce the desired results which will not see the city excluded from the CupIt is estimated that the stadium in Curitiba is 90 percent completed but like many of the other 11 venues it has been beset by problems Back in December work at the stadium was temporarily halted when workers walked off the site in protest at not receiving backpayAs well as fatal accidents at three stadiums Sao Paulo Brasilia and Manaus there has been widespread concern at Brazils ability to overcome logistical issues including a poor transport network and skyhigh hotel pricesAll 12 venues were supposed to meet a FIFA completion deadline of December 31 but world footballs governing body was forced to drop the date last month after a slew of delaysQuite apart from the stadium delays sagging transport infrastructure across the continentsized country remains an additional major worry for organisersEarlier Tuesday Brazils aviation authority revealed that Fortaleza airport in the north of the country is delaying major renovations until after the World Cup opting for plan B an improvised tent terminalFortaleza will stage four games in all including Brazils meeting with their Olympic conquerors Mexico on June 17Brazils airport system needs a major overhaul but much of it will not materialise until after the World Cup has been and gone in a country where air travel is often the only way to cover large distancesFIFAs president Sepp Blatter earlier this month criticised the Brazilians for starting preparations too late after being selected as hosts back in 2007President Dilma Rousseff retorted that demand for tickets had been not just hugely oversubscribed but greater than for any other World CupRousseff insisted that suggested the public at large have faith in Brazils ability to organise the Cup of CupsThe finals run from June 12 to July 13