MANCHESTER, September 8 (R-Sport) – It is necessary to “wait and see” the geopolitical situation, but a much urged boycott of the World Cup 2018 in Russia, will not benefit anybody, the president of the International Football Federation (FIFA), Joseph Blatter said.
“There are already some voices coming out about 2018 talking about a boycott – a boycott in sport never has had any benefit. Let us wait and see the geo-political situation, and FIFA shall not intervene with politics. But for the time being we are working with Russia,” Blatter said at the Soccerex Global Convention in Manchester.
Last week, the Czech radio station Radiozurnal reported that Europe's sanctions may also extend into the arena of sports. The European Commission wishes to suspend Russia’s membership of international sports organizations, prevent Russian football teams from competing in European tournaments and even strip Russia of the 2018 World Cup.
Though the EU does not hold the authority to prevent Russia from participating in international sports events, it may try to affect other countries and sponsors through lobbying, Radiozurnal reported.
The European Union has imposed several rounds of economic sanctions on Moscow in light of the Ukrainian crisis. Russia has replied with a one-year ban on the import of certain food products from the EU, including meat, dairy, fruit and vegetables.
