Why should football suffer

[typhoon13]

Mr Johnson said that if it emerged Russia was linked to the incident in Salisbury "it would be very difficult to imagine" that UK representation at this summer's football World Cup could go ahead in the "normal way".

[RED-DOG]

Mr Johnson said that if it emerged Russia was linked to the incident in Salisbury "it would be very difficult to imagine" that UK representation at this summer's football World Cup could go ahead in the "normal way".

I can't believe how much weight Boris Johnson has put on since he won Wimbledon.

[kukushkin88]

It's just a clueless man saying foolish things that he hasn't thought through about a situation he probably doesn't understand. Not that football would suffer much either way.

[Omm]

Just said on LBC that his people have confirmed he meant the officials not the footballers, very weak excuse, I wonder does someone despair when he gets up to make a speech.

[typhoon13]

Just said on LBC that his people have confirmed he meant the officials not the footballers, very weak excuse, I wonder does someone despair when he gets up to make a speech.

Typically living up to his name Buffoon

[PokerBroker]

The immediate back track is because FIFA would have come down hard on politicians getting involved in Association Football.  They don't like politics, unless of course it's their politics.

[MintTrav]

Not gonna comment any further on Boris but the team should be withdrawn if an important enough political event occurred. (This is not that event.)

[TheDazzler]

Not gonna comment any further on Boris but the team should be withdrawn if an important enough political event occurred. (This is not that event.)

They should only withdraw if they had no chance of winning that event (which is the case with the World Cup!)

[kukushkin88]

Not gonna comment any further on Boris but the team should be withdrawn if an important enough political event occurred. (This is not that event.)

They should only withdraw if they had no chance of winning that event (which is the case with the World Cup!)

Elemenents of foreign policy should be dictated by the estimated outcome of a (kind of silly) game? Sounds good.

[4KSuited]

Given that

FIFA's awarding of the World Cup to Russia & Qatar was corrupt
Russia has consistently involved itself with doping in sports - including football
Russia has committed acts of international aggression - annexing Crimea; fomenting war in Eastern Ukraine; shooting down a civilian airliner; continues to bomb civilians in Gouta (yes, I know we do similar in Yemen)
Russia appears to have a programme of political assassination (the Salisbury case is only one of many)
England has ~2% chance of winning it
There's probably >25% chance that real harm will come to English supporters

It wouldn't be a bad decision to withdraw from this WC.... And the one in Qatar, which is equally repugnant for a range of similar & other reasons

All IMHO of course

[AndrewT]

It would be a properly dickish move to pull out of a tournament once you've been charging 90,000 people £60 a pop to watch qualifying games for it on the basis of no new information (the notion that Russia is a corrupt dictatorship that gets up to some weapons-grade shady shit across the world is hardly new news).

[kukushkin88]

Given that

FIFA's awarding of the World Cup to Russia & Qatar was corrupt
Russia has consistently involved itself with doping in sports - including football
Russia has committed acts of international aggression - annexing Crimea; fomenting war in Eastern Ukraine; shooting down a civilian airliner; continues to bomb civilians in Gouta (yes, I know we do similar in Yemen)
Russia appears to have a programme of political assassination (the Salisbury case is only one of many)
England has ~2% chance of winning it
There's probably >25% chance that real harm will come to English supporters

It wouldn't be a bad decision to withdraw from this WC.... And the one in Qatar, which is equally repugnant for a range of similar & other reasons

All IMHO of course

You make some very good points. How can our chance of winning it play a part in the decision? That bit is a joke right?

[4KSuited]

Given that

FIFA's awarding of the World Cup to Russia & Qatar was corrupt
Russia has consistently involved itself with doping in sports - including football
Russia has committed acts of international aggression - annexing Crimea; fomenting war in Eastern Ukraine; shooting down a civilian airliner; continues to bomb civilians in Gouta (yes, I know we do similar in Yemen)
Russia appears to have a programme of political assassination (the Salisbury case is only one of many)
England has ~2% chance of winning it
There's probably >25% chance that real harm will come to English supporters

It wouldn't be a bad decision to withdraw from this WC.... And the one in Qatar, which is equally repugnant for a range of similar & other reasons

All IMHO of course

You make some very good points. How can our chance of winning it play a part in the decision? That bit is a joke right?

Yeh, that bit was just a preemptive strike vs our Scots, Welsh & Irish readers. ;0)

[4KSuited]

It would be a properly dickish move to pull out of a tournament once you've been charging 90,000 people £60 a pop to watch qualifying games for it on the basis of no new information (the notion that Russia is a corrupt dictatorship that gets up to some weapons-grade shady shit across the world is hardly new news).

Isn’t it possible to disagree without being offensive?

That aside, it seems you’re ok with English fans getting smashed up & locked up. Fair enough, if you’re one of those who’s been shelling out £60 a pop.

[SuuPRlim]

Would be appalling if England weren't in the world cup, I love it when England play, can bet whoever they playing +0.5 and U2.5 goals and then going shopping in peace.