World Cup protests held in Sao Paulo, Brazil

More than 2,000 people have held a protest in the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo against the high cost of hosting the 2014 World Cup in the South American country.

Waving flags, carrying banners and chanting “There will be no Cup,” the crowds swarmed the streets of Sao Paulo on Saturday to protest against the football tournament that the country is set to host later this year.

Brazilian demonstrators gathered in front of the Sao Paulo Art Museum, where clashes broke out as police tried to disperse the demonstrators.

Demonstrators set a car on fire, targeted an empty police car, and burned tires. Shops and banks were also attacked in the city center. Police said 128 people have been arrested during the clashes.

There were similar but smaller protests in other cities. In Rio de Janeiro, about 50 protesters gathered in front of the Copacabana Palace hotel, holding signs blasting the World Cup.

Fifteen people were also reported to have been detained at a protest near a stadium in Natal in eastern Brazil.

According to local reports, a group calling itself the Anonymous Rio, organized the protest as the year’s first act against the sport event, which is scheduled to kick off on June 12.

Critics say the millions of dollars being spent on the event should be invested in better health, education services, transportation, and housing in the country.

Last year, millions of people took to the streets across Brazil complaining of higher bus fares, poor public services and corruption.