U.S. senators want FIFA to move 2018 World Cup out of Russia

Sounds a bit deja vuish of the 1980 US boycott of the Moscow Olympics.

If the same logic is applied, all international sporting events held in the US should also be cancelled because of that countries illegal overseas drone attacks that have been shown to kill mainly civilians. No doubt these same senators support such aggressions.

Yes. Please. It was a disgrace to have the Sochi Olympics there and the increasing number of international sporting events going to crummy countries just shows how the whole thing can be bought.

The leaders almost never make the sacrifice or pay the consequences. It would be the average soccer fan in Russia who looses. Meanwhile Putin remains the jerk he is and can fly to see whichever matches he chooses.

Well they know that if Russia is stripped, USA is one of the most likely places to be handed the World Cup on such short notice. So I wonder if that is the real motive behind this.

You do not reward people and countries who bring prejudice and violence into the world, no matter which country is doing it. As for the average Russian soccer fan paying the consequences if the 2018 World Cup is moved, do not forget that the Russian people are the ones supporting Mr. Putin in very large numbers.

You do not reward people and countries who bring prejudice and violence into the world, no matter which country is doing it.

The problem is that in this case, the country calling for the movement of the World Cup has brought plenty of prejudice and violence into the world, and is responsible for the killings of 10s of thousands of innocents through bombing campaigns and drone attacks.

So where do they propose to move the World Cup to? I sure hope it's not their own country.

The problem is that in this case, the country calling for the movement of the World Cup has brought plenty of prejudice and violence into the world, and is responsible for the killings of 10s of thousands of innocents through bombing campaigns and drone attacks.

As well as other countries that have done the exact same thing, but now that it's just a few years ago, we have to cherry pick? That's not the issue.

So where do they propose to move the World Cup to? I sure hope it's not their own country.

Why not? Or some other place, not the UK or Australia, Canada or some other place in Europe perhaps?

Yogi Debatable if hosting the World Cup is a reward. seems to me that only beneficiaries are FIFA. Look at the last few and the huge financial burden and subsequent losses they placed on their host countries. Not sure why US senators suddenly taking this up. anyway, by 2018 we willaybe find that Russia is the Us' staunchest ally ........

Am I the first poster here to point out the irony of Americans taking interest in 'soccer' affairs?

Am I the first poster here to point out the irony of Americans taking interest in 'soccer' affairs?

For the last world cup, more tickets were sold in the US than any country other than the hosts, Brazil. US TV audiences for world cup games are now comparable to the likes of Germany and England but increasing all the time. When FIFA is finally sorted out, the US is likely to become one of the most influential countries when it when it comes to 'soccer affairs'.

If we consider “ongoing violations of the territorial integrity" of countries, Russia is definitely more deserving of the World Cup than the US, even if we believe all the anti-Russia propaganda.

Why not? Or some other place, not the UK or Australia, Canada or some other place in Europe perhaps?

In Europe? Then Nuland will write to FIFA, saying ...

@Strangerland The US has conducted something like 500 drone strikes. Ever. There would have to be 20 killed per strike to even begin to reach your numbers, but don't let the facts stop you from your tirade.

Proof please.

And what about bombings? And all the innocents killed in other ways? And what about all the innocents killed by the insurgents that were created by circumstance through the US invasion of a sovereign nation that had not attacked them?

Something like 500,000 innocent Iraqis have been killed since The Invasion. All of these deaths are on the US.

'by 2018 we willaybe find that Russia is the Us' staunchest ally ........'

Exactly. Countries regularly move on and off the US shitlist.

Going forward, maybe all member countries can draw up their own shitlists of countries and those countries which find themselves with too many dishonorable mentions can be eliminated from the bidding process. I can imagine a few on that list....It sounds more democratic than some politicians in one country throwing a hissy fit about someone it isn't best mates with at the moment.

@Jimizo Russia is an international pariah and you know it. It would be no problem getting Russia enough dishonorable mentions.

@Strangerland

Something like 500,000 innocent Iraqis have been killed since The Invasion. All of these deaths are on the US.

People without an axe to grind against the US would not except that. Iraqis have to bear some responsibility for being the nutters they are. No democracy has collapsed as easily as Iraq has. They should thank the US for bringing some reality to the arbitrary state they were living under.

Proof please.

http://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/category/projects/drones/drones-graphs/

Right patty cake champ. MOST American don't even watch soccer like the rest of the world does. Why should a handful of US Senators give two-bits where fifa holds the event?

Jimizo. I guess that would mean the WC would be held in Switzerland for evermore.

Let's see. Russia - "violated the territorial integrity of Ukraine" as claimed by the West, but with no valid proof except vague accusations in some pro-Ukrainian blogs. USA - military aggressions against Yugoslavia / Serbia, Iraq, Libya, interventions in Afghanistan and Syria, drone attacks in Pakistan, Yemen and God knows where else (of course, with flagrant violations of territorial integrity of all of these countries and many thousands innocent people killed), and after all that senators want Russia to be punished??!! Are these guys mentally healthy?

'@Jimizo Russia is an international pariah and you know it. It would be no problem getting Russia enough dishonorable mentions.'

I was being half-serious about a comparison of shitlists but a BBC poll last year saw Israel, Pakistan, North Korea and Iran as the countries regarded most negatively around the world. Would you agree that in principle all of these countries should should be disqualified from hosting any international sporting events? According to world opinion they are international pariahs seen even more negatively than Russia. Your particular country's shitlist isn't the only or definitive one and as mentioned, Russia like many other countries, may have been shifted into America's 'like' column by 2018. Psychopaths, despots and scumbags worse than Putin have led countries which have moved between America's 'like' and 'don't like' columns both ways before, often without changing their behaviour.

Something like 500,000 innocent Iraqis have been killed since The Invasion. All of these deaths are on the US.

Well, No. The majority of deaths overall you can blame on the insurgency, but back on track.

People without an axe to grind against the US would not except that. Iraqis have to bear some responsibility for being the nutters they are. No democracy has collapsed as easily as Iraq has. They should thank the US for bringing some reality to the arbitrary state they were living under.

So very true.

Am I the first poster here to point out the irony of Americans taking interest in 'soccer' affairs?

Soccer is gaining popularity in the States, oddly enough.

For the last world cup, more tickets were sold in the US than any country other than the hosts, Brazil. US TV audiences for world cup games are now comparable to the likes of Germany and England but increasing all the time. When FIFA is finally sorted out, the US is likely to become one of the most influential countries when it when it comes to 'soccer affairs'.

I was utterly amazed at how popular WC was last time, never seen anything like it. Personally, I was very happy that the US is getting more on board with the sport and from the looks of it as you, it's only going to get bigger.

Something like 500,000 innocent Iraqis have been killed since The Invasion. All of these deaths are on the US.

Well, No. The majority of deaths overall you can blame on the insurgency, but back on track.

And what created the circumstances that allowed for that insurgency? The US invasion of a sovereign nation that had not attacked it, that was complying with the American demands.

But they are OK with it being in Qatar? Hypocrites who are talking out of their collective arses.

'Jimizo. I guess that would mean the WC would be held in Switzerland for evermore.'

Switzerland is the HQ of FIFA. The corrupt FIFA cronies would love that. Blatter would probably be outside the stadiums in a false beard and sunglasses flogging tickets at ten times face value.

And what created the circumstances that allowed for that insurgency? The US invasion of a sovereign nation that had not attacked it, that was complying with the American demands.

If you want to believe that, be my guest.

But they are OK with it being in Qatar? Hypocrites who are talking out of their collective arses.

That would be just as bad, if not worse!

If you want to believe that, be my guest.

What do my beliefs have to do with it? I'm simply stating the facts.

FIFA and Russia deserve each other. A game filled with faked falls and anticlimactic shoot-out endings signifying nothing suits Russia's current culture. Let them keep football, and let American kids continue to enjoy soccer - two quite different things.

@Asakaze Don't forget about Georgia, another country with territory occupied by Russia.

What do my beliefs have to do with it? I'm simply stating the facts.

Yes, exactly! The sectarian violence as the overall main catalyst.

Don't forget about Georgia, another country with territory occupied by Russia.

completely forgot about that. I thought the Russians didn't like Soccer. Isn't their number one sport Hockey?

The sectarian violence as the overall main catalyst.

Sectarian violence that was birthed through the actions of the US invasion of a sovereign nation that had not attacked it, and was complying with its demands.

nothing suits Russia's current culture. Let them keep football, and let American kids continue to enjoy soccer

@Laguna You seem to have profound knowledge of other countries` cultures. Then what games should have played Iraqi, Afghani, Libyan and Pakistani kids, killed by US military? And what games should play people who allowed such crimes to happen? I think only games that are played at prisons.

Don't forget about Georgia, another country with territory occupied by Russia.

@scipantheist That`s all you can come with?? Check Wikipedia or something - Abkhazia and Southern Ossetia are not occupied by Russia. These two republics are self-governing territories that won independence from Georgia.

'I thought the Russians didn't like Soccer. Isn't their number one sport Hockey?'

Football is the number one sport in Russia - a country with some taste when it comes to sport. One of the criteria for awarding a World Cup tournament to a country should be a genuine love of the game. That said, I disagreed with Russia getting the World Cup but it was a better candidate than the US. The 1994 World Cup was without doubt the worst I've seen in my lifetime.

Football is the number one sport in Russia - a country with some taste when it comes to sport. One of the criteria for awarding a World Cup tournament to a country should be a genuine love of the game. That said, I disagreed with Russia getting the World Cup but it was a better candidate than the US. The 1994 World Cup was without doubt the worst I've seen in my lifetime.

I know your joking. So tell me what is the FIF ranking of Russia? They played a horrible game. Yeah, you do have some Russians that love the game, but Hockey will still win over all other sports. Look, prove to me that is was the better candidate than Russia, NOT your personal opinions. My gosh, how low can you libs go. If you guys see a cow, you'll call it a cat. Seriously....LOL

@Asakaze

That`s all you can come with??

That is two areas occupied right this moment by Russian troops that don't belong to Russia. This is compared to like zero for the US on territory that was forcibly separated from another country. How much criminal activity do you need? I can come up more examples.

If the senators want the World Cup to be held somewhere else, they just have to give FIFA executives a larger bribe than Putin did. With FIFA or the IOC, cash talks, BS walks.

@Bass Sorry, you will find that football is the most popular sport in Russia. I haven't found any source which states otherwise. Perhaps you can point to one.

'Look, prove to me that is was the better candidate than Russia, NOT your personal opinion'

I have absolutely no idea what that sentence means.

We rank higher than Russia, now and for a very long time. Not my opinion, that's a fact. Hey, you won't see Beckham spending time in Moscow. LOL

@scipantheist

two areas occupied right this moment by Russian troops

False statement again. One more time, hope you`ll understand it al last: these republics are not occupied by Russia, they are well defended by local militia. Simply no need of Russian troops.

zero for the US on territory that was forcibly separated from another country

Forgot about Kosovo? And Iraqis just asked US to invade their country in 2003?

I can come up more examples

Be my guest. I bet it would be funny reading.

Hey, you won't see Beckham spending time in Moscow. LOL

His missis has a clothes shop in Moscow. I'd be surprised if he didn't drop in now and again.

'We rank higher than Russia, now and for a very long time. Not my opinion, that's a fact. Hey, you won't see Beckham spending time in Moscow. LOL'

If you awarded World Cups based on world ranking, neither the US nor Russia would have a prayer.

If you awarded World Cups based on world ranking, neither the US nor Russia would have a prayer.

True for now at least, give it some time. On the other hand, Let that be virtually any other sport against the US and everyone else wouldn't have a prayer.

Football is the number one sport in Russia - a country with some taste when it comes to sport.

Then USA is a country with some taste when it comes to sport? Although in USA. football are not played on icy ground. What happened to Russian graceful ice skating?