World Cup Final, Maracanã reformed, the 2016 Olympics. Not even the series of mega events that Rio de Janeiro will receive in the next few years seems to satisfy a small group of locals.
They dream higher, and have launched a movement called "Rio deserves one more match of Brazil." The explanation is that, although the Maracanã is the main 2014 World Cup stadium, "The World's Largest" may not receive even a single match of the Brazil squad.
This is because the World Cup table provides that Brazil only will step on Rio’s lawn if it reaches the tournament final. Cautious, members of the movement want to ensure at least one passage of the team through the marvelous city.
According to the group, FIFA directed the table of the last World Cups so that the main stadium for the tournaments received the highest number of the local team matches. Something that will not be repeated in 2014.
In addition, members of the movement are outraged at what they qualified a "privilege" to the city of Fortaleza, which, in addition to receive the Brazil team in the first round, also will see the Brazilian stars in the quarter-finals.
"With all due respect the city of Fortaleza deserves, it is not fair that Rio de Janeiro, with all its tradition and history in soccer, perform only one match, if the Brazil team reaches the final," says the introductory text on the Web site of the movement.
Embrace
In December, the group has started to collect signatures for a petition to be sent to FIFA. They promise to increase the pressure in the next 14, a Sunday, when the fans will meet in front of the stadium for a symbolic embrace around the Maracanã.
But for now, the popular support to those who ask one more match of Brazil in Rio de Janeiro does not seem very large. One clue is that the Facebook page of the movement has, to date, only 42 followers.
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04/05 | News
