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EU weighs up Russia World Cup boycott

04 September 2014, 15:57 CET
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EU weighs up Russia World Cup boycott

Photo © Rui Araujo - Fotolia

(BRUSSELS) - European nations have discussed hitting Russia with sporting sanctions including a boycott of Vladimir Putin's showpiece 2018 football World Cup as a penalty for stoking the crisis in Ukraine, sources and reports said Wednesday.

Moscow could also face suspension from Formula One races and other sporting events, under long-term plans circulated among European diplomats alongside proposals for immediate economic sanctions.

Leaders of the 28-nation EU on Saturday asked the European Commission, the bloc's executive arm, to draw up new sanctions in response to claims that Russia has sent troops into neighbouring Ukraine.

A European source told AFP that the World Cup boycott idea was in a "working document discussed by the member states" detailing options for the economic sanctions, "but as a possibility for later on, not now."

The paper was circulated to diplomats from European countries this week, before member states take a decision on what sanctions to impose, possibly by Friday.

The Financial Times quoted the document as saying that in addition to economic sanctions "thought could also be given to taking coordinated action within the G7 and beyond to recommend suspension of Russian participation in high-profile international cultural, economic or sports events (Formula 1 races, UEFA football competitions, 2018 World Cup, etc)."

Russia is also staging the world swimming championships next year.

- Economic sanctions -

British and German politicians called for Russia to be stripped of the World Cup in July, following the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over Ukraine, allegedly by a missile fired by pro-Moscow rebels.

Putin in July promised an "unforgettable" World Cup, building on the success of this year's Winter Olympics in Sochi in what will be Russia's most ambitious sporting project since the fall of the Soviet Union.

The new economic sanctions being considered by the EU are expected to build on the same four areas targeted by the last round of sanctions, European Commission spokeswoman Pia Ahrenkilde said Wednesday.

The EU limited Russian access to European capital markets, banned the sale of arms and "dual use" materials with possible military and civilian uses, and limited the sale of technology for the oil sector.

After Ukraine said Wednesday that it had agreed a ceasefire in the conflict, European Commission spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic said any decisions on sanctions would "take into account the developments on the ground."

Putin said Wednesday that he hoped a final deal to resolve the crisis could be struck during talks scheduled for Friday.

But the fact that European nations are now discussing a possible sports boycott is designed to hit Russian prestige.

British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said at the time that Putin would "exploit" the World Cup and that it would make the West look weak "if we're not prepared to pull the plug."

However, FIFA executive committee member Theo Zwanziger reportedly dismissed the proposal at the time.


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