Brazil has dragged its feet on most aspects of organising the World Cup and Valcke appeared to lose patience when he made comments at the weekend that were translated as saying Brazil needed a kick up the backside.
“I lament profoundly that the incorrect interpretation of my words caused so much worry,” he said in his statement released by the Brazilian government. “I would like to apologize to (Rebelo) and any other person who might have been offended with my words.”
