Brazil's sports minister to resign before World Cup

 Brazil's Sports Minister, Aldo Rebelo, is to stand down in December just six months before the country’s hosting of the 2014 World Cup.

He said he would give way to someone new after delivering the 12 stadiums to be used for the tournament, all of which are due to be ready by December.

Rebelo, a federal congressman belonging to Communist Party, took over in 2011 after his colleague was forced to resign on allegations bordering on corruption.

Rebelo was at the centre of a "diplomatic incident’’ in 2012 when he refused to meet with FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke, after he had described Brazil's preparations for the tournament as too slow and that it needed a "kick up the backside."

The outgoing minister said he was resigning to run for an office in October 2014 elections.