Rapporteur suggests 50% of discounted tickets for students and seniors

The rapporteur of the project for the General 2014 FIFA World Cup™ Law (Lei Geral da Copa do Mundo de 2014), Congressman Vicente Cândido, from the Workers’ Party of the State of São Paulo will establish, in his statement, a division of the 300 thousand discounted tickets – “which could be increased to 400 thousand” – which will be put on sale in Brazil by FIFA.

Half these tickets will be for students and senior citizens and the other half will be divided between lower-income people, including people registered on the Brazilian  Bolsa Família governmental assistance programme, the differently abled, Native Brazilians and even as part of the Brazilian disarmament programme (exchanging firearms for tickets, soccer balls, shirts and other marketing products).

According to Vicente Cândido, the price of these tickets will be set at US$ 25 and, in the event that demand is higher than supply, then there will be a draw in the 12 host cities where the tickets will be distributed by FIFA. If 300 thousand tickets are allocated to this public, then this will correspond to 10% of the 3 million tickets forecast by FIFA for the whole World Cup.

No Visa
The rapporteur also plans to change the provisions of the text which grants exemption from the need for a visa for tourists who only show their Identity Card and their ticket, establishing that they may not remain in Brazil after December 31st, 2014. According to the original text, which was sent by the Brazilian Government to the National Congress, the tourist would be exempted from the need for a visa provided he or she had a ticket and also without any limit on his or her stay in the country. The rapporteur wants to establish a limit of six months after the end of the World Cup.

In relation to allowing alcoholic beverages in stadiums where matches are to be held, to pander to FIFA, whose sponsors include a brewery, Mr. Cândido continues to defend the decision and believes that most of the members of the special commission that analyses the General World Cup Law will also be in favor.

He also admits that he has not yet decided how this issue will be addressed in the report, as there are many Brazilian Congress people who oppose the measure and also because this issue would have to be included in the Supporters’ Statute (Estatuto do Torcedor).

Another point that Vicente Cândido does not know how to solve is that of the FIFA exclusive rights to sell World Cup products around the stadiums where the games will be held. The Congressmen has ensured that the shopkeepers whom have already set up in the regions close to the stadiums will not be forced to close, “which would go against the Brazilian Constitution”.

In his view, the issue will be solved directly with the state governments and also by FIFA, there being a Bill of Law in this regard to be discussed with the States. According to the Congressman, nothing bars the institution from negotiating directly with the shopkeepers.