June 11 – Russia’s preparations for the 2018 World Cup have taken another step forward after President Vladimir Putin signed off on the so-called ‘World Cup Law’ that has caused so much debate.
Under the rule, FIFA or its nominees must give written approval for any trading or advertising within two kilometers of any stadium on match days.
Russia currently operates a blanket ban on the sale of alcohol at sporting events, but this will be lifted for the World Cup. The sale of alcohol was one of the main sticking points behind Brazil’s implementation of its own World Cup Law for next year’s tournament – finally approved by Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff in June 2012.
“On the days on which sports competitions are held, trading activity on the territory of the stadium and in other places where events are taking place, and also within a radius of two kilometers around stadiums, may take place only with the official written consent of FIFA or persons nominated by FIFA,” said a Russian government statement.
RIA Novosti reported that Russian way of life could be affected by the granting of powers allowing FIFA to stop commerce in large areas of the 2018 World Cup host cities. The news agency said this would cover several Moscow districts and most of central Volgograd.
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