100,000 expected to protest ahead of Brazil semi-final

The country could see its largest protest so far for the Selecao's upcoming Confederations Cup clash, in which Fifa president Sepp Blatter is to attend

Around 100,000 people are set to take to the streets of Belo Horizonte to protest on Wednesday ahead of Brazil's Confederations Cup semi-final with Uruguay.

It is just the latest in a number of demonstrations which have filled the country's cities in recent days and, with it being a holiday in the capital of Minas Gerais, authorities are expecting the largest turnout so far.

The Public Ministry of the city had suggested the semi-final be postponed out of fears for people's safety, but the police have since guaranteed the public's welfare following the decision to draft in reinforcements from Brazil's national guard.

The march, which is being organised by the city's residents and co-ordinated via social networking platforms, is fuelled by the population's anger that the government is ignoring its country's public service issues while focusing its attentions on hosting of sporting events such as the World Cup next summer - the cost of which is believed to be a source of much of the hostility.

Despite Wednesday's demonstration being planned as a a peaceful protest, concerns have been raised after its organisers said on social networking sites they expect people to wear items including a long-sleeved shirt, pants, gloves, goggles and a handkerchief to cover their face.

Fifa president Sepp Blatter is expected to be in attendance for the match, though it is not known whether or not the increased security has been implemented due to his presence.

Brazil striker Fred, who is expected to start against Uruguay, revealed how he supports the protest and hopes the demonstration can pass without incident.

"I'm in favour of the protests because the people deserve better," he said. "It has to be done without violence and vandalism though.

"I'm hoping it will be peaceful tomorrow, without confrontations with the police."

Police injured in Confederations Cup protests around the Mineirao

Security officers took casualties after being assaulted en masse by mobs numbering in the thousands

Several police officers have suffered injuries as citizen protests during Saturday's Confederations Cup match between Brazil and Italy escalated to violence.

Locals have staged demonstrations against the Brazilian government's funding of the eight-way World Cup dress rehearsal, in addition to the tournament actual in 2014 and the subsequent Olympics in 2016.

The security threat to the host nation's final group game against the Azzurri had been aggravated to a point that officials were forced to deploy military enforcement in and around Mineirao.

Proceedings kicked off in an atmosphere of relative peace nevertheless, as the home supporters initially celebrated their team's goals in the 4-2 demolition of Cesare Prandelli's men to top Group A.

However, reports on local radio of the onrushing of a demonstration numbering 100,000 strong headed for the stadium from Belo Horizonte - the surrounding locale - incited a frenzy.

Around 3,000 protesters directly engaged the police outside the complex. Authorities surrounding the stadium were bombarded by a myriad of objects ranging from rocks to crude bombs.

Five policemen are estimated to have sustained injuries resulting from the assaults, adding to the dozens of civilian casualties and pair of deaths that have been inflicted so far.

Brazil president Dilma Rousseff had appealed for the protesters to disengage in a television broadcast on Friday, citing funding for the World Cup was not drawn from tax income.

Fifa, the competition's organisers, has decided against postponing the remaining fixtures, despite reports claiming a participating nation has requested for such.

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.