EU urged to boycott FIFA World Cup in Russia

[Leghorn21]

60 members of the European Parliament called on EU member states to boycott the FIFA World Cup in Russia, DW reports.

The initiator of this appeal is a representative of the Green Party, Rebecca Harms. She believes that Russian President Vladimir Putin cannot be a host of the World Cup while the war continues in Syria and Ukraine. She also pointed out that Russia supports right-wing extremist and anti-democratic parties in the EU and has been trying to influence elections.


Overall, the statement was signed by representatives of 5 factions of the European Parliament from 16 countries. The authors of the document indicate that Russia itself is pushing Europe towards such steps. A group of deputies reminded others about the poisoning of former GRU agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia, which they called a mockery of European values.

snip

Earlier, a White House representative urged British and American fans to think twice before going to the World Cup in Russia.

http://uawire.org/members-of-european-parliament-urge-a-boycott-of-the-world-cup-in-russia#

Sure like to know who this WH representative might be...? Also, does Spanky know this happened, bc Vlad’s gonna get a MAD behind this, seems to me.

[tritsofme]

1. If I didnt have to hear about the World Cup this summer, Id be pretty happy.

[malaise]

2. BS

Bet that was led by countries that didn't qualify

[Codeine]

4. What kind of weak, pathetic country

can’t qualify for the. . . errrr, wait.

Ahem.

[malaise]

5. Italy as well

[Leghorn21]

7. Well I know virtually zip about soccer or qualifying, for true, malaise!! - I thought

the point here would be to rob Putin of the $$$ and prestige of hosting the WC - a bit of a public smackdown for extremely bad behavior -

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. Can't identify the WH representative, but it appears to be more about lack of consular services

after the tit-for-tat expulsions:

The White House official warned anyone planning to attend: “I would think twice because we won’t have the same ability to protect our citizens or even just dealing with the regular consular affairs when we’re there. And the other countries too. You would have that concern in any country about having the lack of consular support.”

England have qualified for the finals but the USA have not. The UK Foreign Office says consular teams were available around the clock to assist the 20,000 England fans who visited Brazil for the last World Cup in 2014. The provision of such support will be more difficult in Russia in the present climate, the senior Trump administration official said.

“If you get into any kind of difficulty there, we just won’t have the wherewithal. People have accidents. They get ill, they need to be medevacked out. We’re not suggesting that there are going to be some major sets of incidents but it’s just those larger concerns.

“We’re trying to work with the Russians on counter-terrorism as well. Any large sporting event, no matter what country now, is a target. And so we’ve now got less ability to be able to do that with the Russians than before because they’ve decimated the counterparts who would be dealing with this kind of thing, for the UK and the US.”

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/08/trump-official-football-fans-russia-world-cup

[Leghorn21]

8. Thank you, muriel! nt

[Ron Obvious]

6. Idiotic idea.

Work on Qatar. You still have time to boycott that one -- and you should.

[tazkcmo]

9. Our men's team

Is way out front on this! They didn't qualify.