Cold War hits football fields

The scandal related to recent revelations from FIFA chief Joseph Blatter is gathering pace. Recently, Blatter stated that a secret agreement was made to host the World Cup 2018 in Russia. Blatter spoke about the World Cup in 2022, but it was Russia that got all the media hype. Pravda.Ru editor-in-chief Inna Novikova and the head of the Center for Strategic Communications, Dmitry Abzalov, discussed the issue.

Photo: AP photo

FIFA scandal: Russia vs. the West

"Dmitry, in Russia, may people took Blatter's words as words of "betrayal" of Russia. Some even started saying that Russia will be deprived of the right to host the World Cup in 2018. Can it happen?

"The scandals at FIFA are associated with the aggravation of relations between Moscow and the European Union and the United States. Originally, Washington launched a campaign against the World Cup in 2022 in Qatar, when the Russian Federation was not on the "list." Afterwards, the pressure on FIFA became stronger mainly at the initiative of London as the British wanted to hold the championship in 2018 in the UK. However, as long as London had been the host of a major sports event just a few years ago - the Summer Olympic Games - football officials thought that it would be fair to hold the World Cup in Eastern Europe  - in Russia.

"The decision was made, but when the relations between Russia and the West aggravated, they started putting pressure on Blatter. It was hardly possible to deprive Russia of the right to host the World Cup in 2018, but there was a reason to discredit Moscow in the eyes of the world. One needed to change the FIFA administration for that. Blatter and his rival Platini were removed from power.

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"As for the recent statements from the "disgraced" Joseph Blatter, there is nothing sensational in them. He did not say anything about bribes."

"Blatter spoke about some secret arrangements."

"It must be understood that countries agree to support each other prior to landmark votes on major sports events. Representatives of one country negotiate mutual support with federations of other countries."

"What's the point of of the scandal then?"

Blatter spoke about Qatar, but they made Russia a scapegoat

"Blatter said that there was an attempt to show influence on the vote at the executive committee. More importantly, Blatter accused Washington, rather than Moscow, because the situation in question was about the choice of Qatar as the hosting state."

Also read: Will Blatter hold World Cup 2018?

"Nevertheless, Western media presented it in a way as if Blatter unveiled a secret agreement in relations to the World Cup in 2018 that is to be held in Russia."

"I repeat once again: the main part of what Blatter said was about the 2022 World Cup. Russia's candidacy was beyond doubt, as Russia has never hosted such a tournament. The USA was supposed to be the second candidacy, where the World Cup had taken place in 1996. Yet, according to Blatter, Platini messed it all up. He voted for Qatar and began to actively incite others to act similarly as well. The point is that it was Qatar that crossed the road of the United States, but not Russia. To crown it all, football is sport No. 1 in Russia, unlike in Qatar, where summer temperatures reach 60 degrees above zero Centigrade."

Interview conducted by Inna Novikova
Pravda.Ru

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