Russia makes dig at England bid
The war of arguments between Russia and England's 2018 World Cup bids has increased with England being called "absolutely primitive". This comment came from the honorary president of the Russian Football Union after England bidding committee decided
to make a formal complaint to FIFA about their bid rivals.
A former member of FIFA and UEFA’s executive committees, Viacheslav Koloskov, said: “England was afraid of how badly their bid is going."
While on the other hand, England also lodged a complain to FIFA that chief executive of Russian 2018 bid, Alexei Sorokin, had highlighted London’s high crime rate and youth alcohol problems in an interview publicly, that appeared to contravene FIFA’s rules
about talking about rival bidders.
Koloskov was interviewed by a Russian site and his comments have been translated into English.
Koloskov said: "It's a comical situation. The English are afraid of how badly their bid is going. Their journalists are provoking members of the committee, and they now say one of the members of our bidding team has spoken out against England in an improper
manner. I think it's a rising of tensions, and also an attempt to in some way influence the work of our bidding team. These acts have little chance of success. Russia should not be afraid of sanctions. There won't even be an investigation. The behaviour of
the English is absolutely primitive. Instead of talking about their own excellence and merits, they try to put off their opponents."
On Wednesday, FIFA confirmed they had received a complaint and said: "We have been in contact with the England and Russia bids in relation to this matter, which is currently pending."
It is reported, that the English World Cup bidding committee are seeking a formal apology from Russian chief executive, who tried to denigrate the English bid.
Sorokin said on Tuesday: "I will provide an explanation to FIFA but I do not feel that what I said originally requires an apology."
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