Rubber Bullets Fired as World Cup Protests in Brazil Turn Violent

Police fired rubber bullets and tear gas at protesters after demonstrations against the high price of holding the World Cup in Brazil turned violent.

About 1,000 people gathered in front of the National Stadium in Brasilia, where Brazil were playing Japan in the Confederations Cup, protesting at the price of tickets and cost of building stadiums for next year's tournament.

Riot and mounted police were called in to keep protesters away from the stadium as thousands of fans arrived for the inaugural match in the capital.

Police fired rubber bullets, tear gas band and pepper spray to clear the crowds, and 15 people were arrested.

The match was not disrupted by the protest and Brazil won 3-0 in front of a crowd of 67,423 people.

Protester Vinicius de Assis, 21, said: "We are demanding more respect to the population. They are building these overpriced stadiums and are not worrying about the situation of their own people."

Student Ana Leticia Ribeiro said: "I'm upset that all public money for construction, hospitals and schools is being used to build stadiums without any utility. After the World Cup, no one will use this."

Others were angered by the high ticket prices, which put them beyond the range of many.

The stadium in Brasilia cost $600 million (£382 million), and was one of the most expensive of the six built ahead of the tournament.

A government statement said: "Authorities will not allow any disturbance of public order or any threats against the match. It's guaranteed that fans have complete access to the stadium."

In recent weeks there have been violent protests in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro as thousands of demonstrators complained of rising bus and subway fares.

FIFA expressed "full confidence" in the authorities' ability to manage disorder in the streets.

The Brazilian government said 54,000 security officers would be drafted in for the warm-up competition.