BRASILIA (AP) ― FIFA President Sepp Blatter called for “respect” and “fair play” after fans loudly jeered him and Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff before the Confederations Cup opener between Brazil and Japan.
Fans booed Blatter and Rousseff the moment their names were introduced at the National Stadium in Brasilia on Saturday, and also when they made their speeches officially opening the World Cup warm-up tournament.
The jeers seemed louder after Blatter spoke and gave the word to Rousseff. Before she started talking, the FIFA president said, in Portuguese: “Friends of Brazilian football, where is the respect and the fair play, please?“
While Blatter has been booed during appearances at stadiums across the world, Rousseff has been a popular president in Brazil.
The national team was jeered by local fans in previous matches.
koreaherald@heraldcorp.com
