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2014 FIFA World Cup

FIFA refuses to ban Russian football team from playing in 2014 World Cup

On March 7, US lawmakers sent a message to FIFA President Sepp Blatter demanding to consider possible suspension of Russia’s membership in FIFA over current crisis in Ukraine

© EPA/ALVARO PORTILLO

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NEW YORK, April 03. /ITAR-TASS/. The International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA) does not plan to ban Russia from playing at a FIFA World Cup which will be held in Brazil in the summer of 2014 and does not intend to strip the country of the right to host a FIFA World Cup in 2018, US newspaper The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing a letter from FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke to US senators Mark Kirk and Dan Coats.

On March 7, the lawmakers representing the US Republican Party sent a message to FIFA President Sepp Blatter demanding to consider possible suspension of Russia’s membership in FIFA over current crisis in Ukraine at a FIFA extraordinary meeting. Meanwhile, senators insisted on depriving Russia of the right to host FIFA World Cup in 2018 and barring Russian national football squad from playing in the FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

The letter reads that participation in the world championships or any other competition under FIFA aegis depends only on sport criteria. Only violation of FIFA rules can be a reason for dropping the country from the list of participants in the tournament. The letter also noted that national football teams were not responsible for actions of state authorities in these countries.

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