Blatter: Russia World Cup not under discussion

By Brian Homewood

FIFA President Sepp Blatter has reiterated that Russia’s hosting of the 2018 World Cup is not up for discussion.
“We are not placing any questions over the World Cup in Russia,” he told an event near Kitzbuehel, Austria, according to DPA news agency.

“We are in a situation in which we have expressed our trust to the organisers of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups,” he added. “A boycott has never achieved anything.”

There have been calls from politicians for the tournament to be taken elsewhere because of Russia’s role in the Ukraine crisis and its occupation of Crimea.

According to the Financial Times, for the first time since the Ukraine crisis began, EU diplomats are mulling over the idea of barring Russia from major events, including the World Cup.

An options paper circulated in European capitals this week reportedly included the idea of recommending suspending Russia from “high-profile international cultural, economic or sporting events.”

The paper said “several delegations” had shown enthusiasm for the move and that although it would not form part of a fresh raft of sanctions being drafted this week, the options paper suggested that “thought could also be given to taking co-ordinated action” on a sporting ban.

Asked recently whether there was any risk that Russia could lose its right to hold the tournament due to the complicated political situation, President Vladimir Putin said: “I hope not. FIFA has already said football and sport are outside politics and I think that is the right approach.”

Russia will host the 2018 World Cup at 12 stadiums in 11 cities, including two venues in Moscow.
The 2022 World Cup will be played in Qatar which has also been criticised because of its alleged maltreatment of migrant workers in the construction industry.

FIFA’s ethics committee is investigating the bidding process which led to the awarding of both tournaments in December 2010.

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