By Andrew Warshaw
July 24 – Dutch football authorities (KNVB) say it is far too early to discuss whether the country will take part in the 2018 World Cup in the wake of the Malaysian Airlines flight that was almost certainly shot down by Russian separatists over eastern Ukraine, killing everyone on board including 193 Dutch nationals.
As political pressure grows on Russian president Vladimir Putin, the tragedy has raised questions in the West over Russia’s hosting of the World Cup.
“Different people have asked the KNVB questions about the 2018 World Cup in Russia,” a Dutch federation statement read. “We realise that a future World Cup in Russia will be very emotive for all football lovers and relatives of the dead in the Netherlands.
“During these black days the KNVB is with the families, friends and football clubs of the victims. Silence over this immense loss is the current priority.
“The KNVB thinks that it is more appropriate for discussion about the future World Cup in Russia to be held at a later date, when the investigation of the disaster is completed.”
In Germany, meanwhile, several senior politicians in Chancellor Angela Merkel’s ruling conservative party have been more reactionary and raised the possibility of stripping Russia of hosting rights, though this is unlikely given Russia has not broken any FIFA regulations as such.
Michael Fuchs, deputy head of the conservative bloc in the German parliament, said this would have far more impact than economic sanctions.
“FIFA should think about whether Moscow is an appropriate host if it can’t even guarantee safe airways,” Fuchs told Handelsblatt Online, though he did throw in a pitch for Western European countries, saying that Germany and France could take over the tournament if needed. A not dissimilar pitch to that of US and MLS commissioner Don Garber who said that a World Cup in Qatar 2022 was unplayable and that the US was ready to take over.
Germany’s interior minister of the state of Hesse agreed with Fuchs. “If Putin doesn’t actively cooperate on clearing up the plane crash, the soccer World Cup in Russia in 2018 is unimaginable,” Peter Beuth told Germany’s top-selling daily Bild.
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