Football Association chairman Greg Dyke has admitted that he is "surprised" by the lack of excitement surrounding the upcoming World Cup in Brazil.
Football's biggest tournament gets underway in Sao Paulo on Thursday night as the host nation takes on Croatia in the long-awaited opening match.
However, the build-up to the competition has been marred by transport strikes, concerns over the stadia and criticism regarding the money spent on hosting the tournament in a country with so much poverty.
"What I'm surprised about this city is that you wouldn't know there is a World Cup going on. I'm told there's all sorts of politics. There is real concern about the protesters. Some people don't want Brazil to win because they don't want the government to get re-elected," Dyke is quoted as saying by PA.
"There were buildings in the last World Cup that were covered in flags. Here... the only reason you'd know there's a World Cup here is because half the people are on strike and you can't get from the airport.
"The people I've been talking to are of the view that it's very quiet. It does bring up the question for the future because clearly there are a lot of people in this country who think too much money has been spent when there are extremes of poverty."
Dyke also criticised FIFA chairman Sepp Blatter over the ongoing allegations of corruption in the organisation.
Barney Corkhill
