Is FIFA admitting to a lot of technical errors with venue selections? First it was Qatar, now Brazil?

FIFA boss Sepp Blatter has admitted Brazil may have been the WRONG choice as host of next year's World Cup - as yet more riots erupted in the country.

Police fired teargas and arrested 15 protesters in one of Rio's main tourist areas, days before a planned visit by the Pope.

Demonstrators are furious at the £9billion the government is spending to host the 2014 World Cup instead of investing in public services.

Last month saw days of riots as more than a million people took to the streets to protest during the Confederations Cup tournament.

Blatter, president of world football's ruling body Fifa, admitted: “If this happens again, we have to question whether we made the wrong decision awarding the hosting rights.”

He said he will take up the issue when he meets Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff in September.

But Blatter's comments infuriated the Brazilian government. The sports minstry said: “The success of the Confederations Cup proves the correct choice of Brazil to host the World Cup.”

The final of last month's tournament - seen as a key test of readiness for the World Cup - ended with police and soldiers firing tear gas, shock bombs and rubber bullets to keep thousands of protesters away from the Maracana stadium.

Tear gas drifted through the stadium as Brazil beat Spain 3-0. But Mrs Rousseff had to stay away after being booed at the opening match.

The riots prompted speculation England could be called on to host the World Cup at short notice to save the tournament.

Millions of Brazilians are angry at poor public transport and health services while almost $14 billion is being spent on the World Cup.

About the same amount will be spent on the 2016 Olympics in Rio.

Fifa has acknowledged for the first time it raised concerns with Brazilian officials after the Confederations Cup final.

Blatter added: “We didn’t do a political debriefing, but we did emphasise the fact of this social unrest being there for the entire duration of the Confederations Cup.

“The government is now aware that next year the World Cup shouldn’t be disturbed.

“To me, these protests were like alarm bells for the government, the senate, the parliament. They should work on it so that this is not going to happen again."

Security officials are bracing for more trouble when Pope Francis arrives in Rio on Monday for the Catholic Church’s youth festival. 

Hoping the tournament goes well. I love Brazil but the people do have a point.