1 Jun 2013

Brazil v England game will go ahead as stadium suspension ended

3:55 pm on 1 June 2013

A Brazilian judge has lifted an injunction that threatened to block Monday morning's Brazil v England football friendly in the newly-revamped Maracana stadium over public safety concerns.

The Rio de Janeiro state government says that the judge lifted the suspension order she had signed earlier in the day after missing paperwork was provided and the game will go ahead as planned.

With the England team already in Rio de Janeiro, the injunction came as a shock and threatened to scuttle the first game between England and Brazil in three decades at the stadium that is regarded as the spiritual home of Brazilian football. England have won only one of five encounters there.

Maracana was built for the 1950 World Cup and was supposed to be ready for its re-inauguration in December, six months ahead of the Confederations Cup in June. It did not, however, re-open until April the 27th as its $600-million overhaul programme was plagued by delays and burgeoning costs.

The stadium is due to host seven matches during the 2014 World Cup, including the final.