RIO DE JANEIRO - Fifa president Sepp Blatter says Brazil will work to ensure the 2014 World Cup leaves a legacy, insisting the event is not a "circus" that pitches its tent and then leaves no trace.
"The World Cup is not a circus which arrives, sticks around for a couple of weeks and then leaves town," Blatter said.
"It must leave a legacy."
In a wide-ranging interview with the O Globo newspaper a day after the draw for the 2014 tournament, Blatter said he believed Brazil would assume its responsibilities as the huge country battles to get stadiums in 12 host cities ready on time, while undertaking a huge overhaul of its creaking transport infrastructure.
The five-time world champions last hosted the tournament in 1950.
Blatter said he recognised the need for Fifa itself to clean up an image tarnished in recent months by allegations of corruption.
"We do have to fight against different vices prevalent in our world, such as corruption, doping, discrimination, match-rigging and illegal betting," said Blatter, indicating that "to reach (our) objective we must revamp Fifa's image".
"With the image we have at the moment people don't take us seriously when we talk about fair play and respect," Blatter acknow-ledged.
World Cup no circus, says Blatter
RIO DE JANEIRO - Fifa president Sepp Blatter says Brazil will work to ensure the 2014 World Cup leaves a legacy, insisting the event is not a "circus" that pitches its tent and then leaves no trace.
"The World Cup is not a circus which arrives, sticks around for a couple of weeks and then leaves town," Blatter said.
"It must leave a legacy."
In a wide-ranging interview with the O Globo newspaper a day after the draw for the 2014 tournament, Blatter said he believed Brazil would assume its responsibilities as the huge country battles to get stadiums in 12 host cities ready on time, while undertaking a huge overhaul of its creaking transport infrastructure.
The five-time world champions last hosted the tournament in 1950.
Blatter said he recognised the need for Fifa itself to clean up an image tarnished in recent months by allegations of corruption.
"We do have to fight against different vices prevalent in our world, such as corruption, doping, discrimination, match-rigging and illegal betting," said Blatter, indicating that "to reach (our) objective we must revamp Fifa's image".
"With the image we have at the moment people don't take us seriously when we talk about fair play and respect," Blatter acknow-ledged.
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