Dave Zirin on the World Cup You Won’t See on TV: Protests, Tear Gas, Displaced Favela Residents | Democracy Now!
While most cameras are focused on the athletes
out on the field, sportswriter Dave Zirin describes what is going on
outside the stadium.
#soccer #fútbol #WorldCup
The 2014 World Cup in Brazil is entering its fifth day. The United
States will play its first game of the tournament today against Ghana.
Meanwhile, protests are continuing on the streets of Brazil. Many
Brazilians have expressed fury over Brazil spending an estimated $11
billion to host the cup while the country’s hospitals and schools remain
woefully underfunded. In a video taken by the Associated Press on
Sunday, a police officer can be seen firing what appears to be a live
pistol round at anti-World Cup protesters near Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana
soccer stadium. Police have reportedly also used tear gas, rubber
bullets and noise bombs to disperse demonstrators. We go to Rio to speak
with sportswriter Dave Zirin who was tear-gassed on Sunday while
covering the protests. He is author of the new book, "Brazil’s Dance
with the Devil: The World Cup
