Arsenal star to lead Russia charm offensive in South Africa

By Andrew Warshaw

June 5 – The Russian 2018 World Cup bid team are taking Arsenal star Andrei Arshavin to South Africa next week in a bid to woo members of the FIFA Executive Committee.

Russia have not qualified for the World Cup finals so are cleverly using Arshavin as part of a charm offensive following the two-day FIFA Congress in Johannesburg on June 10.

Although nations bidding for 2018 are keeping a low profile at the Congress itself, all of them are presenting at a so-called Bidder Expo summit immediately afterwards, attended by both voting FIFA Executive Committee members and all FIFA members federations but not open to the media.

Arshavin, one of Russia’s most high profile players, will team up with first Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov and bid chief executive Alexey Sorokin who said: ”As we forge ahead with our candidature, a high level of communication has developed between the Government and our football organisations, akin to one-touch passing in the game.

“We are thrilled to have such a well-known ambassador of Russian football as Andrei Arshavin join us in Johannesburg to further enhance our team.”

Interestingly, prior to the FIFA Congress, the Russian bid committee has additionally been invited to present its candidature to members of CONCACAF who will have three votes when the decision on the 2018 and 2022 World Cups is taken in Zurich on December 2.

All four European candidates are confident of winning the CONCACAF votes for 2018 but the fact the Russians are meeting them separately suggests they are in a strong position.

None of the other bidding nations have yet given details of their proposed itinerary in South Africa.

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