'There will be no cup!

Mass protest: Hundreds of people yesterday descended on the streets of Sao Paulo as part of the 'You are not going to have Cup' protest

At least 1,000 demonstrators took to the streets of Sao Paulo yesterday in protest over the mounting cost of holding the World Cup in Brazil later this year.

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in front of the Sao Paulo art museum for about an hour before heading out to another part of the city chanting slogans against the tournament while waving banners and flags.

But the demonstration descended into violence yesterday as they approached the central area of the city, with rioters attacking an empty police car, while a civilian's car caught alight while driving near a road on fire.

During the demonstration several protesters chanted: 'If we have no rights, there will be no Cup.'

University student Leonardo Pelegrini dos Santos said: 'By rights we mean the people's right to decent public services.

'We are against the millions and millions of dollars being spent for the Cup. It is money should be invested in better health and education services and better transportation and housing.'

Fellow student Juliana Turno said: 'This is a small sample of the protests that will happen when the World Cup begins and will be bigger than those of last year.'

Last year, millions of people took to the streets across Brazil complaining of higher bus fares, poor public services and corruption while the country spends billions on the World Cup, which is scheduled to start in June.

SOURCE-DAILYM