FIFA Reject Calls to Strip Russia of 2018 World Cup in Wake of #MH17 Plane Crash
FIFA released a statement saying:
"As a world governing body of football Fifa takes its responsibility in governing football seriously and we support any peaceful and democratic debate," the world football governing body stated. "Fifa deplores any form of violence and will continue to use its tournaments to promote dialogue, understanding and peace among peoples.
"History has shown so far that boycotting sport events or a policy of isolation or confrontation are not the most effective ways to solve problems.
"The hosting of the World Cup with the global attention it attracts can be a powerful catalyst for constructive dialogue between people and governments, helping to bring positive social developments. The World Cup unites teams and nations from all over the world, from the qualifiers to the final competition in a spirit of fair play and respect.
"Fifa is convinced that, through football, particularly the World Cup and its international spotlight, we can achieve positive change in the world, but football cannot be seen as a solution for all issues, particularly those related to world politics.
"We have seen that the World Cup can be a force for good and Fifa believes this will be the case for the 2018 World Cup in Russia."
"History has shown so far that boycotting sport events or a policy of isolation or confrontation are not the most effective ways to solve problems.
"The hosting of the World Cup with the global attention it attracts can be a powerful catalyst for constructive dialogue between people and governments, helping to bring positive social developments. The World Cup unites teams and nations from all over the world, from the qualifiers to the final competition in a spirit of fair play and respect.
"Fifa is convinced that, through football, particularly the World Cup and its international spotlight, we can achieve positive change in the world, but football cannot be seen as a solution for all issues, particularly those related to world politics.
"We have seen that the World Cup can be a force for good and Fifa believes this will be the case for the 2018 World Cup in Russia."
Earlier today politicians called for Russia to be stripped of hosting the 2018 World Cup, with FIFA facing growing pressure to act, as reported by The Washington Post.
German interior minister Peter Beuth told Bild: "If Putin doesn’t actively cooperate on clearing up the plane crash, the soccer World Cup in Russia in 2018 is unimaginable,"
Beuth wasn't the only senior German figure to make such comments, as a senior leader from the Christian Democrats stated that: "FIFA football association should think about whether Moscow is an appropriate host if it can’t even guarantee safe airways,"
The list of those who agree that Russia should be stripped of the tournament goes on. "Putin believes that a World Cup in Russia can be sold to his people as an endorsement of his rule," writes Tunku Vardajan in The Daily Beast.
He goes on to say:
"In all of this lies the chance, also, for FIFA to redeem itself. Under Sepp Blatter, its interminable head, the body has been opaque and corrupt. Now is the moment for FIFA and Blatter to take a rare moral stand and not act as obstacles to the revocation of Russia’s hosting rights."
Nevertheless, the football association of the Netherlands was a bit more cagey on the situation, preferring to focus upon mourning those killed in the plane crash. A statementread:
"Standing still to remember our enormous loss is now the priority. The association believes it is more appropriate to conduct a discussion over a future World Cup in Russia at a later moment, once the investigation into the disaster has been completed."
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