Fifa: Confederations Cup will not be cancelled despite protests

The tournament in Brazil has been under threat due to demonstrations spreading across the country, but football's governing body says the show will go on

Fifa says it has no plans to cancel the Confederations Cup taking place in Brazil, despite anti-government protests spreading across the country.

Over one million people took to the streets on Thursday, voicing their anger over the vast extent to which public resources have been spent on the World Cup in 2014 at huge cost to the poor and needy in the country.

However, football's world governing body has insisted that, while it understands the actions of those who have protested, there are no plans to bring an early end to this summer's eight-team competition, nor disrupt next year's World Cup.

"We support and acknowledge the right of free speech and to demonstrate peacefully and condemn any form of violence, [but] at no stage has neither Fifa, the Local Organising Committee nor the Federal Government discussed or considered cancelling the Fifa Confederations Cup or the Fifa World Cup," said a Fifa statement.

"We are in constant contact with all stakeholders, including the teams, and keep them updated on all arrangements made. We have not received any requests to leave Brazil from any team.''

An 18-year-old was killed during the protests after a collision with a car in Sao Paolo on Thursday, while others have been injured.

Latest projections suggest that over €10 billion will be spent on improving stadiums, airports and other projects ahead of next summer's World Cup, with 90 per cent of the cost coming from public funds despite initial promises that money would be provided by private investment.

                                            

The Confederations Cup, used as a test event for the World Cup, began on June 15 and will run until June 30.

Laudrup: Swansea won't let up during run-in

The south Wales side face fixtures against the Premier League's top five teams before the end of the season and the Dane is eager for his side to continue impressing

Swansea boss Michael Laudrup has insisted his side remain keen to impress ahead of a testing run of fixtures in the Premier League.

Having already secured their first-ever major trophy with victory in the Capital One Cup the week before, the Swans effectively sealed their top-flight status by reachin the 40-point mark with a win over Newcastle on Saturday.

But, with games against the each of the Premier League's current top five teams approaching, Laudrup is eager for his players to continue pushing themselves.

"We are playing the top five teams between now and the end of the season and you always want to do well because maybe you want people to see you," the Dane told reporters.

"Everyone has their own ambitions. And besides that, you know you have to do well against the good teams or they will just outplay you.

"There is always a lot to play for. No doubt we will lose some games along the way, and I can accept a loss.

"I can’t say there won’t be games where we don’t play well before the end of the season but, if we do lose, it won’t be because we are relaxed or we feel we’re already there.

"What I cannot accept is a performance like the one we had at Liverpool."