PORTO ALEGRE: An emergency vote in the state assembly of Rio Grande do Sul has cleared the a funding route to guarantee the completion of the crisis-hit Porto Alegre World Cup stadium writes KEIR RADNEDGE.

The Beira-Rio venue had taken over as the most uncertain of all the World Cup grounds after construction work had fallen seriously behind time.

Jerome Valcke, secretary-general of world federation FIFA, had warned last month that failure to complete access zones to the stadium had held up work on the temporary structures essential – for security, hospitality, media etc – for the tournament.

Local organisers had complained that they lacked essential funds and had sought to put pressure on both FIFA and the federal government.

Finally, last night, the state assembly approved a bill granting tax exemptions worth $10m to those companies contracted to undertake the nstallation of the temporary structures.

The bill, approved by 31 votes to 19, allows contracted companies to reclaim all the tax normally due on provision of goods and services.

Beira-Rio, which is owned by top local club International, will stage five games during the World Cup, four in the group phase and a quarter-final.

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