Remarks about London "wrongly interpreted" says Sorokin

By Andrew Warshaw

October 19 – The head of Russia’s 2018 World Cup bid has sought to distance himself from western press reports quoting him as denigrating aspects of society in England – Russia’s main rivals for 2018 – insisting he was misinterpreted.

Alexei Sorokin (pictured) highlighted London’s “high crime rate” and youth alcohol problems in an interview which critics say could contravene FIFA’s bidding rules prohibiting comments about rival bidders.

Sorokin told the Russian daily Sport Express: “We do not enter into squabbles, although we have much to say.

“It’s no secret, for example, that in London they have the highest crime rate compared with other European cities, and the highest level of alcohol consumption among young people.”

Sorokin went on to defend his country against allegations of racism, suggesting the English media simply used such tactics as a way of deflecting attention away from problems in their own country.

With sensitivities becoming increasingly frayed in the build-up to the vote on December 2, Sorokin said he “regrets” his remarks but insists they were misinterpreted and that his interview with Sport Express in no way criticised the English bid.

A statement from the Russians said he was merely making a comment on how the media overseas operated in contrast to Russia, which does not respond to negative reporting.

“The question was about in which ways and tonality media in different countries cover the current 2018/2022 FIFA World Cup bid activities,” the statement said

“Mr Sorokin pointed out that Russian media refrained from highlighting negative aspects in other countries.

“His replies were rhetorical questions.

“By way of illustration, he was using a metaphor in the sense that such mutual highlighting of negative aspects was comparable to bickering housewives in the communal wash house, raising a fuss over everything and speaking badly about each other.

“This context went lost, in particular in translations.

“Mr Sorokin regrets if his statements may therefore have led to such an erroneous interpretation and understanding.”

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