By Andrew Warshaw
August 23 – FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke (pictured) is keeping up the pressure on Russia over the country’s contentious new anti-gay legislation, saying his organisation will not accept any form of discrimination at the 2018 World Cup.
Last month, President Vladimir Putin signed off a law that imposes a maximum fine of 1 million rubles ($30,200) on “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations” among minors. Foreign citizens charged under the law face 15 days in jail and deportation.
FIFA has already called on Russia to clarify the law and Valcke told reporters during a visit to Rio: “We are waiting for this clarification, but we will for sure enter into a discussion with them and won’t accept any discrimination. It’s not just about the World Cup; it’s about every day.”
Russia’s sports minister Vitaly Mutko, who is also head of the country’s 2018 World Cup organising committee, has accused western media of overplaying the issue, which has caused such a furore among athletes, officials, politicians and activists.
Valcke made it clear FIFA would never consider stripping Russia as hosts over the issue, despite boycott calls, but said the World Cup hosts had to abide by established human rights considerations. “There’s no way FIFA will give up on our principles,” he said.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC), similarly concerned by the Russian law, has received written assurances from the Russian Government that “everyone will be welcome” at Sochi 2014 regardless of their sexual orientation.
In a letter to Jean-Claude Killy, chairman of the IOC Coordination Commission for next year’s Winter Games, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak promised full compliance with the Olympic Charter.
“Russia has committed itself to comply strictly with the provisions of the Olympic Charter and its fundamental principles, according to item 6 of which ‘any form of discrimination with regard to a country or a person on grounds of race, religion, politics, gender or otherwise is incompatible with belonging to the Olympic Movement’,” Kozak wrote in his letter to the IOC.
“The Russian Federation guarantees the fulfilment of its obligations before the International Olympic Committee in its entirety.
“In particular, legislation of the Russian Federation does not stipulate any restrictions or differentiation of the rights and responsibilities of citizens on the basis of sexual orientation.
“Discrimination against sexual minorities, just as any other discrimination, is expressly forbidden by the Constitution of the Russian Federation.”
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