Blatter says protesters shouldn't 'use football'
Blatter says protesters in Brazil shouldn't 'use football' to make case against government
Protestors burn a Sao Paulo state flag in front of City Hall, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Tuesday, June 18, 2013. Some of the biggest demonstrations since the end of Brazil's 1964-85 dictatorship have broke out across this continent-sized country, uniting multitudes frustrated by poor transportation, health services, education and security despite a heavy tax burden. (AP Photo/Nelson Antoine)
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) -- FIFA President Sepp Blatter has urged protesters flooding the streets of Brazil to stop linking their anger against the government to the Confederations Cup.
Hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets of several Brazilian cities to call for more investment in basic services, with some questioning the cost of staging the 2014 World Cup.
The biggest demonstrations since the end of the country's 1964-85 military dictatorship have been swelling since Saturday's start of the Confederations Cup, which serves as a test event for the World Cup.
In an interview with Brazil's Globo TV network, Blatter says he "can understand that people are not happy, but they should not use football to make their demands heard."
Blatter added: "We did not impose the World Cup on Brazil."
