The Melbourne Newsroom

Hosting the World Cup is like a bad divorce and FIFA’s lawyers are better than yours, says Professor Richard Tomlinson, Chair in Urban Planning at the Faculty of Architecture, Building & Planning.  After the fun you’re left with the costs and a sour relationship.

The football World Cup in South Africa this year will have economic draw backs, not benefits, for its host country says Professor Richard Tomlinson.

"Facts are negotiable when it comes to the World Cup as it relies on the source of the facts and the context that they're put in.  However, its estimated that South Africa has spent about $4.6 billion on the event."