Romario - Brazilian Congressman and Former Footballer HARDtalk

trip was the first person to alert authorities ` before the crew made a

distress call to the coastguard. Welcome to HARDtalk. In just a

couple of time, the World Cup will kick off here in Rozelle. It will be

the combination of years of preparation and billions of dollars

of investment. In arenas like this one. The brand`new national stadium

in resilient. In this country, they love their football and they love to

party so there is a huge sense of anticipation but there is another

feeling in the air too. Trepidation. Because some of the World Cup

stadium are not ready. Allegations of corruption are swirling around.

There is a fear that this World Cup may be remembered not just for the

goal scored on the pitch but the protests of them.

My guess the date is one of Brazil's injuring football heroes. Romario.

This is believed most beautiful spot in all of resilient.

He was a World Cup winner in 1994, scorer of 1000 goals, a footballing

rebel with a millionaire lifestyle was now an outspoken socialist MP.

It's funny because it's a very calm, very clean city, with very dirty

politics. You might think he would be one of

the World Cup's most enthusiastic ambassadors. In fact, he is one of

its harshest critics. Why? Romario, welcome to HARDtalk.

The World Cup is little more than two months away and, as one of

Brazil's greatest footballing stars, we might expect you to be feeling

excited. Are you feeling excited? And yet you have been one of the

leading voices, very critical of the way the organisation of the World

Cup has gone. How are you feeling about that organisation right now?

It looks as though the World Cup will cost billions of dollars. Many

of the stadiums that have been built have cost hundreds of millions of

dollars and some of them will get barely used after the World Cup has

finished. If you had been in charge of

organising this tournament, how would you do it?

You said not so long ago that when you see in this country schools

where kids get no lunch, classrooms don't have air`conditioning and

where hospitals are short of beds, if we had spent 30% less on the

World Cup we would have money for things that really matter. It sounds

like you are very angry with the decisions made by the football

authorities and the central government?

Who is getting rich off this World Cup?

You seem to have declared war on a number of different targets. You

called the Brazilian football bosses cancer, you accused the president of

Fifa Sepp Blatter of being a thief, the director`general of Fifa you

called a blackmailer. Is that the right kind of language to be using

when Brazil is under the spotlight across the world?

But in saying the things you have said in such an outspoken way, you

have fallen out with quite a few of Brazil's registered footballers. ``

greatest footballers. For example, Pele says Brazil's own people are in

danger of spoiling this World Cup party. People should understand that

football brings in money and benefits to the people of our

country. Ronaldo, a great striker like yourself, says new stadiums

have to be built as part of the World Cup preparation.

You say only two voices but after all Pele is Brazil's greatest

footballer. When you called him an imbecile, it seemed to show a

certain lack of respect. Let's talk about the protests. In

the last year we've seen serious street protest in Brazil and there

is much talk of more protests being targeted at the World Cup itself.

Let me be clear with you. Do you believe people should be out on the

streets, protesting and demonstrating at the World Cup?

Is there not a danger that you are stirring things up, by saying people

have the right and should protest, using the World Cup as a focus for

their anger? You are creating a situation which could lead to

violence, could lead to real danger. You have been very critical during

this interview of the football authorities in Brazil and Fifa. Do

you see anything positive coming out of the World Cup for Brazil?

Let me get a little bit personal with you and explore your own

beliefs and what shape them because you, of course one of Brazil's

greatest football stars but you were raised in a favela. I wonder if your

childhood and you're up bringing have played a crucial role in what

has become your political career as a socialist. Is your background what

defines you? It seems something happened to you

in the course of your career, the switch from sport to politics. I

just wondered what it was, you had a reputation for being, sort of, the

bad boy of football. You enjoyed life, stayed out late, you were

something like a party animal. Now, you have become a politician, known

to your attendance record and seriousness. What happened? `` known

for your. It is interesting how you put it,

you say you have not changed, you are still the same Romario. You are

under intense pressure, you are a celebrity and Brazilians watch your

every move. This your for example you have had some trouble with the

police and a drink`driving charge. The Brazilian media was all over

it. Because you are now an elected politician. You have two live to a

high standard. ``to live. Tell me a little bit about the

particular focus you have put in your politics on the plight of the

disabled in Brazil. It is very close to home, isn't it? Born out of

personal experience for you? Before we end, I want to switch back

from politics to football. Let me ask you about the status of football

in Brazil today, `` the state of football. There is something very

strange that happens in Brazil to talented young footballers, they

grabbed, at the age of 12, 14, 15, taken from their homes, and many are

encouraged, very early, to move to Europe, and they are still young

kids. Often forced huge sums of money. They are living a long way

from home on a different continent. `` often forced huge sums. I wonder

about the way that Holland is developed in Brazil today, is it

healthy? `` talent. If I may, let me ask you this:

thinking back to your own situation when you were taken in your early

20s to Holland, many Brazilians, even younger, they are playing in

big leagues. Is there a danger of Brazilian players being treated as

little more than a commodity, a piece of meat? To be traded by big

businessmen. This seems to be the irony of this

World Cup year in Brazil, we are going to celebrate football in the

nation which is best at football, Brazil, but the domestic game is

full of corruption, there is violence, the crowds and attendances

in many of the stadiums is going down. You could argue that football

in Brazil is actually facing a crisis?

You have already made it plain to me that you do not believe the

currently does of Brazilian football are capable of change. Maybe... You

can do it? I cannot leave your house without

asking you the simple and obvious question: Who is going to win the

World Cup? We will wait and see, but for now,

Romario, thank you very much for being on HARDtalk.