FIFA says no plans to cancel Confederation Cup amid huge protests in Brazil

RIO DE JANEIRO — Soccer's governing body has no plans to cancel the Confederations Cup in Brazil despite the violent anti-government protests spreading across the country.

An estimated 1 million protesters took to the streets in more than 80 cities on Thursday night in the biggest show of anger yet against the government, which is being accused of corruption, high prices and a lack of investment in public services.

The worst confrontations unfolded late into the night in Rio de Janeiro, where more than 300,000 people protested in the city which is hosting key Confederations Cup games. Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets during battles through the streets.

"At no stage, I repeat at no stage has FIFA, the Local Organizing Committee nor the federal government discussed or considered canceling the Confederations Cup," FIFA spokesman Pekka Odriozola said.

He told a news briefing that the eight teams involved in the tournament were being kept updated about the security situation in Brazil. "We have not received any request to leave from any teams," he said.

"We support and we acknowledge the right to free speech and the right to demonstrate peacefully," Odriozola said. "We condemn any form of violence."

He said FIFA would continue to monitor the disturbances in Brazil, but added it had full confidence in security arrangements.

Mass protests have been rare in recent years in Brazil, a country of 190 million people, but an outpouring of public anger has been mushrooming over the last week.

What started as demonstrations against increases in bus and subway fares in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro has grown more intense as Brazilians have taken other, more general grievances to the streets. The demonstrations have led to a violent police crackdown.

Some protesters have denounced the billions of public dollars spent on stadiums in advance of the World Cup and the 2016 Olympics in Rio.

The government is projecting that $13.3 billion will be spent on stadiums, airport renovations and other projects for the World Cup, with an estimated $3.5 billion on venues.

"We want hospitals and schools in FIFA standards," read one banner outside the Maracana Stadium in Rio on Thursday ahead of Spain's match against Tahiti.