Iconic Maracana stadium loses power supply due to unpaid bills

Venue of the 2014 World Cup final, Maracana’s power supply was cut off as it owes almost 3 million Real to the electricity company since October.

Brazil’s Maracana stadium, that hosted the 2014 World Cup final and the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2016 Olympics, was plunged into darkness on Thursday after the power supply was severed due to unpaid bills.

The Maracana stadium had hosted the 1950 and 2014 World Cup finals as well as the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2016 Rio Olympics. (Getty Images)

Power was cut off on Thursday morning, a statement from the power company said. “The bills are behind since October,” read the statement.

The total debt of the Maracana is around 3 million reais ($939,937) with 1.3 million owed by the current owners, a consortium led by construction company Odebrecht, Light said. Another 1.7 million is owed by the organisers of Rio 2016.

The Olympic organising committee, who were in control of the stadium in September and October, are negotiating their part of the bill, the electricity company added.

The stadium is one of the most iconic in the world. It had hosted the final of the 2014 World Cup when Germany beat Argentina and also hosted the final match of the 1950 tournament where Uruguay beat Brazil 2-1 to lift the trophy.

Former Brazil great Zico’s annual charity match was the last to be played there in late December.