To be honest, I'm more worried about World War breaking out that the World Cup being boycotted

We should lead the boycott, then at the last minute do a u-turn and go.
Reckon we could get a semi final place if we can convince Germany, Spain, France, Netherlands, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, USA, Belgium and South Korea all to pull out.

comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 20 seconds ago
We should lead the boycott, then at the last minute do a u-turn and go.
Reckon we could get a semi final place if we can convince Germany, Spain, France, Netherlands, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, USA, Belgium and South Korea all to pull out.
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Touché

There is "mixing sport and politics" and "taking the safety of your citizens seriously". Two very different things.

comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 4 minutes ago
We should lead the boycott, then at the last minute do a u-turn and go.
Reckon we could get a semi final place if we can convince Germany, Spain, France, Netherlands, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, USA, Belgium and South Korea all to pull out.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Bet we'd still find a way to feckin lose!

I have no problem with a boycott. The world at the moment is a unpredictable and violent place. We have to make a stance, peaceful where possible, to show that some things are unacceptable. Unfortunately people are dying right now in the Ukraine. No sporting event is worth the loss of even one life

comment by Robben van Persie #20 - Rolls Reus - Hipster #... (U1145)
posted 44 seconds ago
There is "mixing sport and politics" and "taking the safety of your citizens seriously". Two very different things.
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You don't think travelling fans will be safe in Russia?

I have been to Moscow, whilst their locals are stone faced and a little scary, I didn't feel in danger.

Wont happen, you think fifa have morals?

comment by Falcao's Fortress of Fear (U9083)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Robben van Persie #20 - Rolls Reus - Hipster #... (U1145)
posted 44 seconds ago
There is "mixing sport and politics" and "taking the safety of your citizens seriously". Two very different things.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You don't think travelling fans will be safe in Russia?

I have been to Moscow, whilst their locals are stone faced and a little scary, I didn't feel in danger.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
When did you go? Since the "war" with Ukraine started or before?

shouldn't be a boycott

comment by Robben van Persie #20 - Rolls Reus - Hipster #... (U1145)
posted 5 minutes ago
comment by Falcao's Fortress of Fear (U9083)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Robben van Persie #20 - Rolls Reus - Hipster #... (U1145)
posted 44 seconds ago
There is "mixing sport and politics" and "taking the safety of your citizens seriously". Two very different things.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You don't think travelling fans will be safe in Russia?

I have been to Moscow, whilst their locals are stone faced and a little scary, I didn't feel in danger.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
When did you go? Since the "war" with Ukraine started or before?
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It was in 2010, but I don't see how "the war" affects being in Russia.

Being in Ukraine I'd agree.

comment by John Henrys Explosive Offense - #STOPISIS (U18764)
posted 6 minutes ago
Wont happen, you think fifa have morals?
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It's not up to FIFA, it's up the the respective FA's and governments to sort out.

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

comment by thegoonertic (U13932)
posted 9 minutes ago
I have no problem with a boycott. The world at the moment is a unpredictable and violent place. We have to make a stance, peaceful where possible, to show that some things are unacceptable. Unfortunately people are dying right now in the Ukraine. No sporting event is worth the loss of even one life
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Nice post, unfortunately the world is a complicated place. What is going on in Syria and Iraq at the moment is horrific, somebody was even beheaded in London yesterday.

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

comment by Greatteamswinit4times-I'mdogmatic 27/4 (U6008)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by Falcao's Fortress of Fear (U9083)
posted 6 minutes ago
comment by Robben van Persie #20 - Rolls Reus - Hipster #... (U1145)
posted 44 seconds ago
There is "mixing sport and politics" and "taking the safety of your citizens seriously". Two very different things.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You don't think travelling fans will be safe in Russia?

I have been to Moscow, whilst their locals are stone faced and a little scary, I didn't feel in danger.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Going to Moscow and seeing some miserable looking Muscovites isn't quite the same as travelling around Russia into territories that can easily be targeted in retaliation for whatever happens between now and 2018.
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My point entirely...

comment by Greatteamswinit4times-I'mdogmatic 27/4 (U6008)
posted 55 seconds ago
comment by Falcao's Fortress of Fear (U9083)
posted 6 minutes ago
comment by Robben van Persie #20 - Rolls Reus - Hipster #... (U1145)
posted 44 seconds ago
There is "mixing sport and politics" and "taking the safety of your citizens seriously". Two very different things.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You don't think travelling fans will be safe in Russia?

I have been to Moscow, whilst their locals are stone faced and a little scary, I didn't feel in danger.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Going to Moscow and seeing some miserable looking Muscovites isn't quite the same as travelling around Russia into territories that can easily be targeted in retaliation for whatever happens between now and 2018.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Well that's obvious enough, but Ukraine haven't retaliated as yet, if they do, and lets be frank about this they will be crushed like an ant.

We can't account for what happens between now and then but politicians clearly think Russia are going to continue to ignore any warnings.

comment by Falcao's Fortress of Fear (U9083)
posted 14 minutes ago
comment by Robben van Persie #20 - Rolls Reus - Hipster #... (U1145)
posted 5 minutes ago
comment by Falcao's Fortress of Fear (U9083)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Robben van Persie #20 - Rolls Reus - Hipster #... (U1145)
posted 44 seconds ago
There is "mixing sport and politics" and "taking the safety of your citizens seriously". Two very different things.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You don't think travelling fans will be safe in Russia?

I have been to Moscow, whilst their locals are stone faced and a little scary, I didn't feel in danger.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
When did you go? Since the "war" with Ukraine started or before?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It was in 2010,
--------
I went that year too

Sadly, I was going to the CL final

I know Russia pretty well. I lived there for a couple of years and I speak Russian. Assuming the WC does go ahead, I don't think most fans should be wary of visiting. Russians tend not to interact with strangers on the street but it isn't hostility, just a question of social norms. When that barrier is broken, they are far more hospitable than we are. Outside the educated middle class, they do tend to have 1970s attitudes to race, but in most cases it is the non-political, unconscious racism of our grandparents' generation. Having said that, there are neo-Názi groups - they are not prominent and they're a tiny minority but their disgraceful existence is enough to make me hesitate to recommend non-white people visit Russia.

As for boycotts, I doubt it will happen. The sport itself will resist it because disrupting a WC would be a disaster for football, compared to e.g. not including South Africa in competitions that would go ahead without them. I also fear it would be counter-productive. Putin is adept at using Western criticism to bolster nationalistic feeling, deflecting attention from his own profound shortcomings. I can see more benefit coming from millions of people coming to Russia, mixing with the locals, and both sides recognising that the demonisation of the Other was a political fabrication.

comment by Greatteamswinit4times-I'mdogmatic 27/4 (U6008)
posted 13 minutes ago
comment by Falcao's Fortress of Fear (U9083)
posted 51 seconds ago
comment by thegoonertic (U13932)
posted 9 minutes ago
I have no problem with a boycott. The world at the moment is a unpredictable and violent place. We have to make a stance, peaceful where possible, to show that some things are unacceptable. Unfortunately people are dying right now in the Ukraine. No sporting event is worth the loss of even one life
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Nice post, unfortunately the world is a complicated place. What is going on in Syria and Iraq at the moment is horrific, somebody was even beheaded in London yesterday.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

That had nothing to do with anything though. Just a psycho with a knife. You can't account for that kind of thing.
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The press were reporting he was a converted muslim but that it wasn;t terrorist related

Firstly, no chit sherlock, his target was an old lady and some cats ffs

Secondly, so why the need to bring up his religion

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

A boycott or even taking the WC away from Qatar will happen given that they and the Saudis are prime sources of financial backing to ISIS !
Bring it to England Is ay or the US failing that.

The beheading was not linked to terrorism by whoever posted the original comment, he was just saying that crazy shît is happening daily, whether it be it crisis zones in Syria and Iraq or even in our own country, where a madman cut off a woman's head.

targeted in retaliation for whatever happens between now and 2018

-------------------------------------------

I don't see military escalation between the West and Russia, as neither side wants this. In fact, both sides suffer from economic warfare. As far as I can see, Putin doesn't want to annex any more Ukrainian territory, but to ensure that a pro-Western Kiev government isn't able to completely control eastern Ukraine. The results of the stand-off are tragic and at the moment there is no sign of resolution to either the military conflict or the wider geopolitical stand-off. But I can't see it turning into something truly dangerous to us.

And I don't see provincial Russians baying for the blood of visiting foreigners during a WC. Putin's regime will be desperate for good publicity, which means there will be plenty of propaganda emphasising how 'we Russians are tolerant and welcoming people'. The local football ultras and extremist groups are the only entities likely to ignore the message, and I imagine they will be targeted by hardcore security arrangements.

Comment deleted by Site Moderator