Sorokin steps up at Russia 2018 to fill gap left by Mutko
January 5 – Vitaly Mutko’s humiliating decision to step down as head of Russia’s World Cup organising committee in the wake of the ongoing doping scandal is now official.
World Cup
Russian whistle-blower Rodchenkov cleared to speak to FIFA on players accused of doping
January 3 – Grigory Rodchenkov, the whistle-blower whose revelations led to the explosive doping scandal that rocked Russian sport, is now free to talk to FIFA about the extent to which football was involved according to agency reports.
Aeroflot offers Russian fans cheap tickets to fly
January 2 – Russian World Cup fans could be offered Aeroflot flight tickets for just 5 rubles (9 cents) between cities where Russia’s team is playing. Russian president Vladimir Putin has been reported as saying it is a “good idea.”
The show must go on: But without Mutko who quits World Cup and RFU roles
By Andrew Warshaw
December 27 – Under-fire Russian football supremo Vitaly Mutko has now stepped down as chief organiser of the 2018 World Cup having two days ago relinquished his role as president of the Russian Football Union (RFU) after mounting global criticism of his alleged involvement in the Russian doping scandal that has seen the country banned from Olympic sport.
Exclusive: Mutko on the brink. RFU call emergency powwow. Sorokin in wings
By Andrew Warshaw
December 22 – Under-fire Russian World Cup supremo Vitaly Mutko is on the verge of being ousted as head of the country’s football federation following the doping scandal that rocked world sport and heaped pressure on him to stand down.
Moscow declares itself ready for 2018 World Cup and ready to party
December 21 – Head of the Moscow Department of Sport and Tourism Nikolai Gulyaev said on Tuesday that the whole infrastructure of Moscow is almost ready for World Cup 2018.
2018 World Cup ticket demand rockets with 1.3m requests in 24 hours
December 7 – It has been a slow burn but ticket sales have suddenly ignited for the Russia 2018 World Cup following the Final Draw last Friday. 1,318,109 tickets were requested in the first 24 hours from when the sales window opened December 6.
World Cup draw spreads goodwill and love for Russia’s hosting of the greatest show on earth
By Andrew Warshaw
December 4 – The joke buzzing around social media after last Friday’s evenly balanced World Cup draw was that there IS actually a Group of Death: Netherlands, Italy, Chile and the United States.
Russia 2018 Final Draw presser descends into Mutko doping rant on anti-Russian forces
By Andrew Warshaw
December 1 – It was trumpeted by FIFA as a must-watch media briefing about World Cup preparations and the glittering draw at the Kremlin Palace later in the day. Instead, it barely touched on the draw ceremony and turned into a quite extraordinary full-scale personal assault on Russia’s critics by chief World Cup organiser Vitaly Mutko (pictured far left).
Mutko promises a warm, friendly, tolerant Russia 2018; for gay and black people as well
December 1 – Russian World Cup chief Vitaly Mutko has insisted there will be no discrimination against gender preference at the tournament despite fears that the spectre of homophobia and racism could deter some supporters from travelling to the country.
Russia can expect a 500,000 visitor uptick and a 31% spending boost, says Visa
December 1 – The World Cup in 2018 will bring up to 500,000 international visitors who will on average spend 31% more on their credit cards than ordinary visitors to the country.
Qatar unveils designs for Ras Abu Aboud while Khalifa Stadium gets 4-stars
December 1 – Qatar is forging ahead with its World Cup 2022 developments, winning 4-star GSAS sustainability certification for the already completed Khalifa International Stadium and unveiling a spectacular new modular and recyclable design for the soon to be built Ras Abu Aboud Stadium.
Infantino and Mutko set to start the Russia 2018 circus, dismissing doping party poopers
By Andrew Warshaw
November 29 – It promises to be one of the most glitzy occasions since Gianni Infaninto swept into power. But if the FIFA president and Vitaly Mutko, chief organiser of next year’s World Cup, were hoping for a trouble-free environment ahead of Friday’s globally televised draw in Moscow, they have one or two unwanted distractions on their hands.
Russia 2018: 9% of players born in a different country to whose flag they will be wearing
November 28 – The globalisation of football is illustrated by new research that shows that almost two thirds of footballers likely to play at the Russia 2018 World Cup are currently playing for clubs outside of the association they represent.
Legendary Russian keeper Lev Yashin given centre stage in official 2018 World Cup poster
November 28 – The last of the visual imagery for the 2018 Russia World Cup, the official poster, has been unveiled in Moscow Metro. The poster features legendary Soviet goalkeeper Lev Yashin as a central figure.