About 1,000 demonstrators took to the streets to protest against Government spending on FIFA's showpiece tournament, which has now exceeded $11 billion (£6.6 billion/€8 billion), while public services - particularly transport - remain poor.

Although the rally in the city - which will host the World Cup opening match on June 12 - started peacefully, violence soon broke out as police fired tear gas and stun grenades after protesters broke shop windows, vandalised banks and started fires in the street.

"There will be no Cup," protesters are reported to have chanted.

"Cup for the rich, scraps for the poor."

The Military Police of São Paulo wrote on Twitter that it had arrested 262 people.

The latest clashes between police and protesters has seen 262 people arrested and seven injured ©AFP/Getty Images


Among those detained were five local journalists and photographers claimed police knocked cameras from their hands.

"Even having been identified by their professional documents, journalists were lined up down the sidewalk," local daily newspaper O Estado de Sao Paulo wrote.

Five police officers and two protesters were also injured in the clashes.

These demonstrations are the latest in a string of protests since widespread unrest hit Brazil last June, including during the Confederations Cup.

At least seven people have been killed, with most being hit by cars.

Sepp Blatter, President of FIFA, said last month that he expects more protests during the World Cup, but claimed demonstrators will not target the football itself as the game means so much to Brazil.

"I am an optimist not a pessimist so I am not worried," he explained.

"But we do know there will again be manifestations, protests.

"During the World Cup the protests will perhaps be more concrete, more organised.

"But I also believe the football will be safe, I do not believe that Brazilians will attack the football directly.

"For them, it's a religion."

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