#caiforaricardoteixeira Brazilian media today questioned the ability of the former football star Pele to serve as ambassador for the 2014 World Cup

SAO PAULO 27 (Bloomberg) - Brazilian media today questioned the ability of the former football star Pele to serve as ambassador for the 2014 World Cup, a position entrusted to him by the president yesterday Rousseff.
"Pele is not known whether it is able to do everything expected of him at other times the king of football did not prove a great administrator," said Fernando Rodrigues today, political commentator of the newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo and Radio Jovem Pan
Edson Arantes do Nascimento was sports minister in the government of President Fernando Henrique Cardoso (1995-2002) and mentor of Law Pele, who has been questioned by some clubs and the former president Luiz Lula da Silva (2003-2010).
"Let's see how this plays Pele mission entrusted by the president, who bet" enough in the former triple world champion, said the journalist Rodrigues de Folha.
While the newspaper Estado de Sao Paulo reported today that government sources commented that the appointment to the summit was a "marketing move" of the president, amid frequent criticisms of the organization of the World Cup.
According to Pele State has advertising contracts with several international sponsors such as the Spanish Banco Santander and other companies are "competing advertisers" FIFA and the Brazilian Football Confederation.
Because of these "conflicts of interest" related to advertising Pele had decided not to participate in the ceremony on Saturday in Rio de Janeiro will be drawn when the Cup playoffs
But Pele decided to attend the event, which will be televised worldwide, after being appointed "ambassador" by the president at a meeting at the Planalto Palace, seat of government.
Instead, the former crack and 1994 world champion Romario will not be in the draw on Saturday at Marina da Gloria, Rio's beachfront.
The Organizing Committee invited him to the Cup, but Romario, now a deputy for the Brazilian Socialist Party, claimed to have commitments, which confirms its feud with the owner of the CBF, Ricardo Teixeira, appropriated state. (ANSA). MRZ
27/07/2011 16:03

Pelé is named 2014 World Cup Honorary Ambassador

27/07/2011 - 07h56

MÁRCIO FALCÃO
ANA FLOR
FROM BRASÍLIA

After saying that "Brazil runs a great risk of embarrassing itself if it doesn't put on a good World Cup," Pelé received the title of 2014 World Cup Honorary Ambassador on Tuesday from President Dilam Rousseff.

According to Minister Orlando Silva (Sports), the President signed a decree creating the position of World Cup Ambassador. The minister said that Pelé will provide guidance to the government about the World Cup, represent the country at events and participate in discussions with other Cup participant countries and with FIFA.

	Fernando Bizerra Jr/Efe
	President Dilma Roussef poses for a photo beside the former player Pelé, in Brasília

"I could not refuse this invitation from our President. I have been doing this since I was born, since my first World Cup, promoting Brazil. It is a huge responsibility," he said.

Pelé indirectly quoted criticism that the country has been receiving due to problems and delays in the Cup projects, but he requested the trust of Brazilians. In February, the former player criticized the progress of the 2014 World Cup projects. "Brazil runs a great risk of embarrassing itself if it doesn't put on a great Cup. The main problems are communications and airports. Brazil has the obligation to put on a great World Cup," he said at the time. "(The delay in the projects) is not just an issue for Brazilians. I talked with the staff of Platini (president of UEFA) and they are also worried.

This Tuesday, the former player asked for a vote of confidence. "I would like to ask all Brazilians to believe, because it was sort of confused, sort of in doubt, some of the problems that we had here, and we still know what the conditions are, but we can believe because the President has said that she will do what it takes, and I hope that we deliver this World Cup."

He added: "After all the work we have done to get this World Cup, I think we also have an obligation to manage it well. Now this management will be done by all Brazilians, by 190 million Brazilians, and we will all be proud to deliver this Cup."

Pelé said that soccer has helped Brazil to be recognized. "When I arrived in Sweden in '58 no one knew where Brazil was, the Brazilian flag was poorly made and we exalted the name of Brazil, we made the world recognize Brazil, and independently because of soccer."

The minister said that the choice of Pelé is recognition. "It is a tribute to Pelé for all that he has done and is doing for the sport, for Brazil. The President believes that due to the force of the image and history of Pelé, he would be the best face of the 2014 World Cup."

URUGUAY

After the meeting with the President, Pelé asked for the final sporting event rematch between Brazil and Uruguay --at the World Cup in 1950, Uruguay won its second world championship, defeating Brazil in the final.

Asked if the performance of the Uruguayan team in the Americas Cup should worry the Brazilians, Pelé said no. "I don't fear (Uruguay) and I think that there should be a rematch so we can win," the player said.

Translated by DAVE WOLIN

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