The Telegraph reports that Subway workers in Sao Paulo were on Saturday to stage the
third day of a strike that has brought chaos to the Brazilian city due to host
the World Cup opener, as Fifa's vice-president urged authorities to make sure
fans could get to the match.
As police fired tear gas and beat back striking workers with
batons on Friday, Jim Boyce told the
Estado de Sao Paulo newspaper that
the protests could cause difficulties for those trying to attend Thursday's
opening match.
“The biggest concern
is indeed what will happen with the protests. Fans must have assurances they
can get to the stadium,” Mr Boyce said. “The aim of the demonstrations cannot be Fifa. It is not responsible for
the problems,” he insisted, noting that the government should be the
target.
The protesting workers had been picketing and blocking
subways in the second day of the indefinite strike, which has raised fears of
unrest in the Brazilian mega-city during the global showpiece tournament.
Tear gas was used to break up a demonstration blocking
access to at least one metro station, while a third of the city’s subway stops
remained closed on Friday. More than 125 miles of traffic choked city streets.
The strike delayed several Fifa officials for over two hours as they travelled to a conference
ahead of the World Cup.
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