BRASILIA: Brazilian Sports Minister Aldo Rebelo does not believe the street protests which scarred the Confederations Cup wil be repeated during the ‘main event’ World Cup next June.

Rebelo said at the weekend that the finals would be a “party of our people. We must spread the word that the atmosphere at the World Cup will be one of celebration and friendship.”

During a wave of protests last June, protesters complained about a lack of spending on social welfare and educational projects compared with sums spent in preparing for the World Cup.

Several clashes exploded between protesters and police, prompting Rebelo to concede that “the Confederations Cup came just at a moment of unprecedented protests.”

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