Police
fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters before the opening
Confederations Cup match in Brazil on Saturday, leaving more than 30 people
injured outside the stadium in an ugly start to the tournament.
The
activists were protesting against what they see as excessive use of public
funds for stadiums and sporting events instead of health and education
programs, according to local television network GloboNews.
The
demonstration appeared to be peaceful until protesters tried the block an
entrance to the Mane Garrincha stadium where hosts Brazil were playing Japan.
Police
reacted by firing rubber bullets and tear gas, some of which blew towards
supporters who were on their way to the match, television pictures showed.
Media photographs also showed some people with rubber bullet marks.
About
500 people took part in the protests according to the Brasilia Federal
District's security agency, which said 33 people were injured, including four
policemen, and 22 were arrested.
Saturday's
protest followed several other demonstrations in several Brazilian cities this
week.
They
have added to a sense of growing unrest in Brazil at a time when inflation,
crime and the popularity of President Dilma Rousseff, who was at Saturday's
game, have all taken a turn for the worse.
The
Confederations Cup, an eight-team toournament, is considered a warm-up event
for next year's World Cup.
Preparations
for both events have been plagued by delays and cost-overruns and there are
worries those stadiums in cities such as Brasilia, Cuiaba and Manaus, which do
not have top-flight soccer teams, will become white elephants.
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