World Cup officials insist redevelopment of Maracana Stadium on target

RIO DE JANEIRO, April 20 (Xinhua) -- World Cup officials have insisted Maracana Stadium's redevelopment remains on target after construction company Delta reportedly withdrew from the project.

Delta, which is being investigated by Brazil's federal police for its alleged involvement in an illegal gambling ring, this week failed to make payments of 3.7 million dollars to the Maracana Rio 2014 constructors' consortium.

The funds were to be used to pay suppliers and cover operation costs.

A Maracana press spokesperson said works on the stadium, still less than 50% complete, were guaranteed to be finished on time, O Globo reported.

In an interview with police published in the Folha de Sao Paulo on Thursday, Delta president Fernando Cavendish said negative publicity that had surrounded the company would leave it "bankrupt".

"When the media comes with this sort of intensity there is an automatic reaction," Cavendish said.

The Maracana Rio 2014 consortium comprises Odebrecht Infraestrutura (49%), Andrade Gutierrez (21%) and Delta Construtora (30%).

The consortium has a commitment with FIFA to have the stadium ready by February next year.