Brazil's World Cup has been stolen – FIFA pay your taxes

Give my goals to a better world hopes to launch its own campaign over the coming months linking sport and social justice. However, until that is ready to be launched the blog is supporting a campaign being run by InspirAction, Christian Aid’s Spanish organisation. The campaign is about closing the tax breaks given to FIFA and its multinational sponsors in future World Cups. You can take action here and more information can be found below. I hope you will support this important campaign.

FOUL PLAY

Brazil's World Cup has been stolen.

It doesn’t matter that Brazil is the world's seventh largest economy in 2013, or that it has one of the best football teams in the world. No last-minute wonder goal will rescue the trophy this time round.

Nelson Mandela once said “sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair.” This is true, sport can have this power.

FIFA, football’s governing body, has imposed conditions on Brazil as hosts of the World Cup, which grant huge tax breaks to the World Cup Sponsors. This means Brazilians will lose €200 million that could otherwise help  lift millions of Brazilians out of poverty. This lost tax monies could help improve basic public services like healthcare, education and sanitation.

And it’s the poorest people who suffer the most

Mr Joseph S. Blatter, president of FIFA, can be an example and demonstrate that the game can be played differently. Ask Mr Blatter to give tax breaks for the World Cup sponsors the red card, and never impose these rules on World Cup host countries in the future.

Take action

This is a clear example of how the eradication of poverty and inequality is a political decision.  Mr. Joseph S. Blatter, president of FIFA, can be an example and demonstrate that the game can be played differently. Ask Mr. Blatter to give tax breaks for the World Cup sponsors the red card, and never impose these rules on World Cup host countries in the future.  Take action here.