If a group of United States senators has its way, FIFA will shock the soccer world and move the next World Cup.
Robert Menendez and Ron Johnson led 13 senators Wednesday in calling on FIFA president Sepp Blatter to strip Russia of its 2018 World Cup hosting rights, according to Reuters. The senators’ letter cites Russia’s role in the ongoing crisis in Ukraine and its occupation of Crimea as principle reasons why it believes FIFA should stage the next World Cup in another country.
“Allowing Russia to host the FIFA World Cup inappropriately bolsters the prestige of the (Russian President Vladimir) Putin regime at a time when it should be condemned and provides economic relief at a time when much of the international community is imposing economic sanctions,” the senators wrote.
The senators also released a statement to the media that further explains their efforts, according to Four Four Two.
“With the goal of ending the crisis in Ukraine and ensuring a successful 2018 World Cup, we strongly encourage FIFA to deny the Putin regime the privilege of hosting the 2018 World Cup and make preparations for an alternate host country,” they said.
Menendez and Johnson serve on the Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee. John McCain and Richard Durbin also joined the other high-ranking officials in co-signing the letter.
The senators also sent a copy of the letter to the United States Soccer Federation.
Thumbnail photo via Twitter/@MARCAinENGLISH
