Anything goes at the World Cup.
The Senate approves the General Law of the FIFA World Cup in Brazil, which guarantees its most controversial point: the sale of alcoholic beverages.
247 – After much controversy between the Brazilian government and FIFA, the world's governing body for football, the Senate approved the new General Law of the World Cup last night. It guarantees its most controversial point, which is the sale of alcoholic beverages in all stadiums. Read the report from the Estado de S. Paulo newspaper below:
BRASILIA – The Senate approved the General Law of the World Cup on Wednesday night in a symbolic vote, without modifications to the text to avoid a return to the Chamber of Deputies. An agreement among leaders expedited the entire process of the law, which should have gone through four committees, but went directly to the plenary under an urgency procedure. All amendments were rejected by the rapporteurs.
The most controversial point in the Chamber of Deputies, the permission to sell alcoholic beverages, currently prohibited by state laws and the Fan Statute, was also the biggest target of criticism from senators. But, even against the wishes of several parliamentarians – including those from the government's base – it was maintained without changes. In cases where state laws prohibit the sale of beverages in stadiums, it will be up to the state governments to review their legislation or not.
"This was the issue that caused me the most difficulties. Should I, in my report, prohibit the sale of alcoholic beverages, as I, many Brazilians, and several state governments would like, or respect an international contract? I worked with a much more objective than sentimental perspective. But it must be clear that the temporary and exceptional nature of the law for the World Cup and the Cup itself is emphasized," said the rapporteur in the Education and Sports Committee, Ana Amélia Lemos (PP-RS).
The General Law of the World Cup was approved at the end of March by the Chamber of Deputies, after a year of discussions and back-and-forths, especially regarding the permission to sell alcoholic beverages and half-price tickets for students and other categories. The Senate process was lightning fast, about 40 days. The reports from the Committees on Education, Culture and Sport, Consumer Protection and Oversight and Control, Economic Affairs, and Constitution and Justice were presented to the plenary by the rapporteurs, without any changes, as agreed upon by the leaders. With the approval of the urgency on Tuesday, the vote was supposed to take place only on Thursday, but another agreement brought the process forward.
The urgency is justified by the delay in the General Law of the World Cup, which led FIFA to criticize the organization of the World Cup in Brazil several times. Now, the law goes to the president for approval.