Feature

Police link Brasilia officials to Fifa World Cup stadium fraud

Two former governors of Brazil’s capital city are among those named by police over an alleged $178m (£140m/€150m) fraud relating to the renovation of a stadium in Brasilia used in the 2014 Fifa World Cup.

The federal police have called for the indictment of 21 people over claims of overbilling. The 72,000-capacity Mane Garrincha stadium in Brasilia was originally scheduled to cost around $190m but ended up costing closer to $477m.

Construction firm Andrade Gutierrez was part of a consortium that worked on the stadium. Executives from the firm last year entered into a plea-bargain deal to offer details about their role in long-running and massive political kickback schemes that have been uncovered by investigators in the past three years.

Former Brasilia governors Agnelo Queiroz and Jose Roberto Arruda were among those accused of “criminal overbilling” in the 350-page police report. It is now up to federal prosecutors to decide whether to press charges.

The Brasilia stadium staged seven games at the 2014 World Cup, including the group game between Brazil and Cameroon and the hosts’ third place play-off match against the Netherlands.

IMAGE: Brazilian Government