Brazilians protest saying the government's priorities in money spending should be health care and education not hosting football events
Brazilians protested on at the Soccer Confederations Cup demanding both the cancellation of the ongoing tournament as well as the 2014 World Cup scheduled to take place also in the south American country.
"We don't need the World Cup. We need money for hospitals and education," signs carried by protesters read.
Riot police were called up to keep demonstrators from getting too close to the stadiums that host the Confederation Cup games.
Reuters TV reported that nearly 500 protesters participated in the demonstration.
Three were detained.
Next year Brazil is set to host the World Cup in 12 cities across a country similar in size to Europe, and then Rio will host the Olympic Games in 2016.
Brazil has dominated global soccer for years, but has slipped in the last decade, with Spain winning the 2008 and 2012 European Championships and the 2010 World Cup.
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports)
https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/74236.aspx