By Andrew Warshaw
October 29 – Sepp Blatter has re-iterated his view that boycotting the 2018 World Cup in Russia will serve no legimitate purpose but has revealed for the first time that if they qualify Ukraine will not be placed in the same group as the hosts unless relationships between the two neighbours improve.
“You can be sure about this,” said the FIFA president during a visit to Russia as the political unease in eastern Ukraine continues.
But Blatter, who was in Moscow for the unveiling of Russia’s official World Cup emblem, once again rejected calls in some quarters to move the 2018 tournament due to the actions of Russian separatists. Some politicians in Britain, Germany and the United States have called on FIFA to act.
“A boycott never achieves anything and does not have a positive effect. FIFA is fully supporting the World Cup in Russia,” said Blatter. “When we received letters from north America (about as boycott), we answered that this is football.”
Blatter compared the situation with Russia’s hosting of the Winter Olympics in the Black Sea resort of Sochi this year, when Western leaders stayed away. “There was the same situation ahead of Sochi, but neither during nor after the Games, has there been a single word against these Games.”
He said Russia was much further ahead than Brazil at the same stage of preparations. “In comparison with Brazil’s preparations for the 2014 World Cup, Russia is well ahead of them with four years to go.”
Speaking to reporters, Blatter also shrugged off growing criticism of the World Cup third-place playoff that has become increasingly irrelevant.
“We will not be getting rid of it. It’s very important. If there was no third-place playoff then the head of [European body] UEFA, Michel Platini, would never have taken home a bronze medal. These games are always well fought.”
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