Valcke to return to Brazil for FIFA inspections

Rio de Janeiro, March 31 (IANS) FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke will be back in Brazil to overlook the country's preparation for the 2014 World Cup.

Valcke offended Brazil's Minister of Sports Aldo Rebelo and other Brazilians when he said that the country's organizers needed "a kick in the back" in order to take the event seriously. After apologizing, followed by a personal meeting between Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff and FIFA president Joseph Blatter, the matter appears to be solved.

In an official statement by Blatter Friday, the president announced that Valcke will remain in his position of secretary general and will soon return to Brazil in order to resume his routine inspections of Brazil's progress and preparation, Xinhua reported.

Blatter was questioned if he believes Brazil will be able to pull off the world's largest soccer event and responded by reiterating his faith in the country, especially with the aid of the federal government. However, Blatter affirmed that he and FIFA want to see more action and less talk.

In Blatter's meeting with Rousseff, the Brazilian president guaranteed that the government would offer financial assistance in order to ensure that everything will be in order and on time for the World Cup.