Chile describe Brazil's World Cup
bid as 'pathetic'

Chile are to press ahead with a planned bid to host the 2010 World Cup and wrote off a proposed rival candidature from Brazil as "pathetic".

Chilean official Jaime Naranjo also dismissed South African aspirations on Monday, claiming the country had too many social problems to host the massive event.

"The candidatures of South Africa and Brazil don't frighten me because both countries have always had to keep one foot back due to political violence and economic problems," said Naranjo

"Brazil's case is pathetic," he added. "They have been wanting to hold another World Cup since 1950 and the last time they were close (in 1986), it went to Mexico."

"And in South Africa, I don't think they have the social conditions to stage a World Cup."

Brazil offered to step in after Colombia backed out of holding the 1986 World Cup but FIFA awarded the event to Mexico.

Brazil also failed in a bid to stage the 1994 event and withdrew their bid to host the 2006 event three days before the final FIFA vote was held.

South Africa made a bid for the 2006 World Cup but controversially lost out to Germany by one vote.

Naranjo, president of the commission responsible for the Chilean bid, denied reports that FIFA president Sepp Blatter had promised the 2010 tournament would be awarded to an African nation.

RIGHT TRACK

Chile, which hosted the World Cup in 1962, is planning a joint effort with neighbouring Argentina, which held it in 1978 on the last occasion the competition took place in South America.

"We're on the right track. You have to look at the context in which Blatter made the declarations," Naranjo said. "I think the declarations were made in a diplomatic context.

"Our candidature is becoming stronger all the time," he added.

FIFA announced on its website two weeks ago that the principle of rotating the World Cup finals between the six continental federations would be accepted and indicated that Africa would begin the process in 2010.

Blatter declined to immediately after the decision leading to some confusion, but South African officials, who announced last week that they will bid again, say they are confident the decision has been made.

Only hours before the announcement appeared on the FIFA website, Brazilian federation boss Ricardo Teixeira had met with Pele and said the two would work together to bring the competition to Brazil.

"This is the beginning of a big project which will culminate with Brazil hosting the 2010 World Cup," said Teixeira at the time.

Pele had refused to back Brazil's 2006 candidature, effectively wrecking it in the process, due to a long-standing feud with Teixeira.