The stadium in Sao Paulo, Brazil set to host the 2014 World Cup tournament collapsed on Wednesday, killing three and possibly delaying the building process of the arena. Some witnesses say the collapse was caused by a crane.
Itaquerao Stadium was 94 percent complete at the time of the accident, as reported by ESPN. However, after the incident, the arena has heavy damages that will probably delay the completion of the stadium. This comes at a crucial time for Brazil as not only is the tournament less than a year away, but tragedy once again makes the country appear unsafe.
FIFA is trying to bank off Brazil. It is a country made for soccer and huge, record crowds are expected. However, after an incident like this, many visitors will question the country's safety regulations. Will the stadiums adequately support these tremendous, roaring crowds? If people do not go to the games, will they even want to leave their homes and enjoy the games at bars?
Less than a year ago, 230 people were killed at a Brazilian nightclub. Questions of public safety issues spread quickly around the world as many wondered if Brazil would be ready for the World Cup craze. This incident truly does not help the country as safety regulations will now be under the public eye.
The names of the three victims have yet to be released and word on a possible postponement of the ceremonies have yet to be public.
The 2014 World Cup is set to begin on Thursday, June 12 and will run all the way until Sunday, July 13.
