BRASILIA, Brazil – Police say about 1,000 people in the Brazilian capital have protested against the Confederations Cup claiming the money spent to host the tournament would be better spent elsewhere.
The Saturday demonstration began in front of the National Stadium, where Brazil and Japan will meet in the tournament's opener, and then moved on to other parts of Brasilia.
Carlos Carone is a press spokesman for the city's public safety department. He says the demonstration lasted about three hours and there were no clashes between police and protesters.
However local media says police used tear gas, rubber bullets and pepper spray to disperse the crowd.
The protest came one day after police clashed with demonstrators angered by hikes in bus and subway fares in Sao Paulo, Brazil's biggest city.