SAO PAULO (AP) — Voting on a bill regulating the World Cup has been delayed again as Brazil’s Congress remains divided over the sale of alcohol inside stadiums.
A congressional commission last week agreed to allow the sale of alcoholic beverages in World Cup venues, but on Wednesday the lower house postponed voting on the bill until next week because congressmen failed to reach a deal.
In a change in stance by the Brazilian government, House leader Arlindo Chinaglia said he will likely remove the issue from the bill to try to advance the proposed law to the senate.
FIFA wants Brazil to allow the sale of alcohol inside stadiums because Budweiser is a major World Cup sponsor.
The delay comes just two days before Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff is to meet with FIFA President Sepp Blatter in Brasilia to discuss World Cup preparations. The World Cup bill will likely be a topic.
