Protests against World Cup in Brazil turn violent as thousands take to the streets

Family rescued from burning car during WC protest

A car was set on fire in Sao Paulo during the The group tried to overturn the vehicle (Picture: Getty)
protests against the 2014 World Cup (Picture: AP)

Protesters gather on Sao Paulo's Avenida Paulista. Protesters attempt to turn over a police car in Sao Paulo
The sign reads 'If we don't have rights, there won't
e a Cup.' Nelson Flausino Jr.

At least 1,000 protesters have taken to the streets of Sao Paulo in violent protests against the World Cup.

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SÃO PAULO—Small groups of Brazilians took to the streets around the country Saturday to complain about the high cost of hosting the soccer World Cup, with a march in São Paulo turning violent and reviving memories of protests that swept the country in June.

Rio de Janeiro was the scene of a smaller protest that ended peacefully and several other Brazilian cities also saw small demonstrations, according to news reports.

The protesters are angry that the country is spending so much money to build stadiums for the event, organized by FIFA, the governing body of world soccer, instead of on improving the shabby state of government services.

"I don't want the World Cup here because we should be prioritizing health care and education," said Anita Henriques, a 48-year-old nurse, at the Rio protest. "The government overspends like crazy on these events and we Brazilians, the taxpayers, are stuck with the bill."

Brazil has said it would spend 25.6 billion reais ($10.7 billion) of mostly public money on projects related to the 2014 World Cup, a figure that some experts believe could double after final accounts are squared well after the tournament.

A group of about 700 protesters marched along São Paulo's central Avenida Paulista on Saturday, according to police estimates, and clashed with law-enforcement officials in several parts of the city.

Brazilian news reports showed protesters smashing the windows of bank offices and lighting a car on fire in the center of São Paulo, the country's biggest city.Brazil will host the soccer teams of 31 more countries in June and July for the world's most-watched sporting event, and there are already widespread concerns that protests will erupt during the event.

On Saturday, the mostly young crowd in São Paulo, many with their faces covered, carried signs saying "FIFA get out," "Get ready for a fight at the Cup," and "If we don't have rights there won't be a Cup," among other things.

The U.S. Embassy on Friday warned citizens visiting and residing in Brazil to stay away from the demonstrations called for Saturday.

The much bigger protests that started in June were sparked by an increase in the price of the cost of public transport in various cities around the country and quickly metamorphosed into demonstrations against corruption, the shabby quality of government health and other services and the high price the country is paying to host the Cup.

—Paulo Trevisani in Brasilia contributed to this article.