Around 50 people in Maracana have staged a protest against FIFA and the local government over corruptions in the preparation of the world's biggest football event to be held from June to July this year. The protesters, which according to Brazilian reports include Black blocs anarchist group who fronted last year's violent protests, were denouncing the government's move to demolish their houses, aimed at stepping up the construction of a stadium in Maracana .

Protesters clashed with the police, leading to several arrests. The authorities claimed that people threw stones and chunks of wood on to the nearby rail track in order to delay delivery of materials to be used in the project. They also blocked access to traffic along the Radial Oeste thoroughfare which runs parallel to the Maracana.

"It's property speculation - they want to build a shopping mall here. The Brazilian people, the poor, have to make sacrifices so everything can be spick and span for the World Cup," said lawyer and activist Eloisa Samy.

Several people were arrested but as of Thursday and there are still at least 15 families living within the affected site. Contractors and government officials insist that the remaining 40 houses in the site will be demolished by the end of the month.

Meanwhile, Brazil has received some tongue lashing from FIFA chief Joseph Blatter for the country's slow progress in completing the amenities for the World Cup.

"No country has been so far behind in preparations since I have been at FIFA even though it is the only host nation which has had so much time - seven years - in which to prepare," the 77-year old football leader told  Swiss newspaper 24 Heures.

Blatter said that Brazil should work closely to get everything on schedule. He also went on to say that there might be more protest during the World Cup.

"I am an optimist not a pessimist. So I am not worried. But we do know there will be again be manifestations, protests. Those during the Confederations Cup - in this same country - were generated out of the social networks.

"There was no specific goal but during the World Cup the protests will perhaps be more concrete, more organised. But I also believe the football will be safe, I do not believe that Brazilians will attack the football directly. For them, it's a religion."