Dilma responds to Aécio: "Brazil does not want to create Futebras"
President Dilma Rousseff (PT) responded, this Saturday (12), via Twitter, to criticisms made by PSDB presidential candidate Aécio Neves, who said that "the country does not need the creation of a 'Futebras'", referring to greater government intervention in sports; "Brazil does not want to create Futebras. It wants, yes, to end Futebrax and stop being a mere exporter of talent. The government does not want to control football, because it cannot, nor should it be state-owned. We want to help modernize it," said Dilma; she also said that only a reform in football will allow Brazilian stars to remain in the country.
247 - President Dilma Rousseff (PT) responded, this Saturday (12), via Twitter, to recent statements by PSDB presidential candidate Aécio Neves, who criticized the possibility of greater intervention by the Brazilian government in football. According to the PSDB candidate, "the country does not need the creation of a 'futebras'" (read more here).
In response to Aécio, Dilma said that "those who wanted to transform Petrobras into Petrobrax are now distorting the government's position of supporting the renewal of football." "Brazil doesn't want to create 'Futebrás' (a play on words combining 'Futebras' and 'Petrobrax', meaning 'a play on words combining 'Futebras' and 'exporter') and stop being a mere exporter of talent. The government doesn't want to control football, because it cannot and should not be state-owned. We want to help modernize it. Count on us for that," the president stated.
According to her, "football, which is a private activity, needs to have the best practices of private management in the commercial, financial and footballing areas." To that end, the Workers' Party member said that Brazil, "one of the world's largest economies," can be "one of the biggest box office markets for football."
"We must expand opportunities for our star players to play in Brazil, giving them the same conditions as the international market. Opportunities should range from youth divisions to the professional level. Only in this way will we guarantee that excellent players stay in Brazil. We have immense talent and love for football. We now have the best stadiums. With renewal, we will always have the best football in the world," he argued.