RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – FIFA’s number two official has said he’s “amazed” by the levels of drunkenness in Brazil’s World Cup stadiums, reviving a debate over whether alcohol sales should have been allowed at matches in the first place.
In an interview with Brazil’s sports television network SporTV, Jerome Valcke acknowledged Monday that “maybe there was too many people who were drunk” at the matches.
Brazil banned alcohol sales at soccer matches in 2003 in a bid to curb fan violence. But Budweiser is a major World Cup sponsor and tournament’s organizer FIFA insisted Brazil lift the ban to host the month-long event.
Lawmakers opposed to lifting the ban delayed the passage of the World Cup law, legislation that gave FIFA financial and legal guarantees to organize the event.
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