Police break up riots in Sao Paulo, Brazil

Brazilian riot police have used tear gas, stun grenades and rubber bullets to break up anti-World Cup protesters in Sao Paulo just hours before the city hosts the opening match.

Brazilian police have arrested one person on Thursday in Brazil’s largest city, Sao Paulo after he was injured during the riot.

The protesters had tried to block one of the roads which lead to the Corinthians Arena, the stadium where the World Cup opening ceremony is to take place.

The protesters were holding a banner which read “If we have no rights, there won’t be a Cup.”

The protest came about six hours before the first match of the month-long soccer event, and are expected to grow in size before Brazil’s team plays Croatia later today.

Earlier on Thursday, Brazilian workers declared a 24-hour partial strike at three airports in the 2014 FIFA World Cup host city of Rio de Janeiro.

The strike, which will take effect at midnight, is expected to cause delays as thousands of football fans are pouring into the tourist-magnet city to watch World Cup matches.

On June 9, Riot police have clashed with nearly two hundred protesters who set fire to trash cans and piles of garbage to block the streets in Sao Paulo.

Brazil has seen almost daily protests over the multi-billion dollar costs of hosting the football tournament. Critics say the USD 11 billion being spent on the international sports event should be invested in better health, education services, transportation, and housing for Brazilians.

A rising rate of inflation and a sluggish economy have tarnished the World Cup glow in Brazil, which is the biggest country with the largest economy in Latin America.