Fans forced to stand at FIFA World Cup test event at Arena Pantanal

Fans had to stand at the test event at Arena Pantanal since there were no seats

Rio de Janeiro, April 27 (IANS) Fans watching a FIFA World Cup test event at Arena Pantanal were forced to stand due to a lack of seats at the venue.

The stadium in Brazilian city Cuiaba staged its second official match Saturday when Luverdense defeated Vasco da Gama 2-1 in Brazil’s Serie B championship, reports Xinhua.

But dozens of fans were forced to watch standing due to a lack of seats in the upper-western sector of the stadium.

According to O Globo newspaper, Cuiaba’s local World Cup organising committee chief Marcos Jacaranda was seen personally handing chairs to fans who paid $35 to watch the match.

Spectators also complained of plumbing and electric power problems in the venue’s toilets. Officials said about 18,000 attended the fixture.

Arena Pantanal is due to be fully opened May 5, less than six weeks before the World Cup begins.

It is one of three World Cup venues yet to be ready despite an original December 2013 deadline imposed by football’s governing body, FIFA.

Cuiaba will host four group matches: Chile vs Australia, Russia vs South Korea, Bosnia vs Nigeria and Colombia vs Japan.