FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke has apologized to Brazil 's minister of sports for a `` misinterpretation in the translation '' of his comment saying the country needs a `` kick up the backside '' to be ready in time for the 2014 World Cup . Valcke 's letter of apology to Aldo Rebelo came hours after the country had sent official notice to FIFA that it would no longer accept Valcke as liaison . `` We received with astonishment the inappropriate statements by Mr. Jerome Valcke in recent days to the international press . The form and content of statements escaped the patterns of harmonious coexistence between a sovereign country such as Brazil and an international organization , such as FIFA , '' wrote Rebelo . Valcke , in his letter Monday , explained that in French , `` se donner un coup de pied aux fesses '' means `` to pick up the pace . '' Unfortunately , he wrote , the expression had been translated so that in Portuguese it used much `` stronger words . '' The translation was a literal one . `` There is certainly an air of concern at FIFA , and as the person who is ultimately responsible for delivery of the FIFA World Cup , I am under quite some pressure , '' he said . Valcke and a large team of FIFA representatives are due to visit Brazil next week . FIFA President Sepp Blatter also sent his own apology . The Sports Ministry said in a news release that it had it received a letter from Blatter on Tuesday . According the ministry , Blatter said : `` My only comment in relation to this issue is to apologize to all of those whose honor and pride were injured , especially the Brazilian government and President Dilma Rousseff . '' On Friday , Valcke had once again criticized Brazil 's progress , saying the country is more worried about winning the World Cup that preparing for it . FIFA has repeatedly voiced its concern that stadiums and other infrastructure , such as airports , are not being built quickly enough . Among other issues , Brazilian lawmakers have balked at approving the sale of beer at games , which is illegal there . Valcke stressed that he has no doubt that the 2014 FIFA World Cup will be held in Brazil and that he holds great respect and admiration for the nation . According to Brazilian state run news agency Agencia Brasil , the Ministry of Sports will decide whether to accept the apology after reviewing Valcke 's letter .
FIFA President Sepp Blatter also sent his own apology to Brazil . The Brazilian government said it would not accept the apology. He repeats concerns about Brazil 's progress on hosting the 2014 World Cup .