By Paul Nicholson
July 29 – With Russia and its 2018 World Cup hosting having become a focus of political comment in the West, in the East the Russians have remained focused on their task of delivering 2018. In recent days new stadia have been started and the debate over whether the number of host cities has intensified with sports minister Vitaly Mutko (pictured) currently on the road visiting the cities under threat.
In response to western politicians, Mutko said that the 2018 bid was won lawfully and that the influence by Western politicians was not acceptable.
“FIFA already made an announcement, that it is not going to change the country organizing the tournament and I can join this announcement. This organization unifies the whole world’s football and such political influence that is in Europe now is not acceptable,” said Mutko.
“We lawfully received the rights to host the tournament and through this we want to seriously develop the country, make serious investments for 11 cities and also a massive popularisation of football.”
Mutko’s comments were echoed by ex-president of the Russian Football Federation, Viacheslav Koloskov who said: “In FIFA statues there is no such regulations that the rights to host the World Cup can be removed. FIFA has several punishments for a federation: a warning and a temporary or a total exclusion from the organisation.
“In such conditions, a federation loses the right to participate or organise international games, but Russia is not in danger of this. We are not breaking FIFA’s regulations and in no level we are discriminating the organisation, in contrary, we are keeping good relationship with it.”
Mutko is today visiting Ekatirenburg, one of the three cities alongside Volgograd and Kaliningrad that is most at threat of losing hosting status.
Mutko and his delegation will make a final decision whether the city will participate in 2018 with Mutko having said that local officials have not requested that the city drops out.
But there are concerns over stadium build and in his opinion the time to take up an option to build a new stadium has passed – it wouldn’t be ready in time. However, the existing stadium could be refurbished, depending on deadlines, and an alternative that Mutko said would beautify the city.
Talking about Volgograd, Mutko said that in terms of infrastructure it was the least developed of the proposed host cities, but that Russia should not host the 2018 World Cup without Volgograd.
While recognizing that preparation has been slow, Mutko’s delegation is scheduled to be in Volgograd August 1 to inspect preparations and devise a programme that will take help the city meet deadlines. At this stage there seems no intention of removing Volvograd from hosting duties.
Speaking about Yekaterinburg, Mutko said that construction of a 45,000 seat stadium will begin no later than September 1. He said the city will certainly host four group stage matches and could also host last 16 and quarter final knock out rounds.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin put a capsule on the foundations of the Samara football stadium, which will be completed in time for 2018. Putin said that after Sochi this is no less a grandiose project and will be built to the same high standards. The 45,000 capacity stadium is planned to host last 16 and quarter final matches.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1731854480labto1731854480ofdlr1731854480owedi1731854480sni@n1731854480osloh1731854480cin.l1731854480uap1731854480