Boniek wants 2018 World Cup moved

21 May 2015 05:17

Zbigniew Boniek, the former Poland international who is now chairman of the Polish Football Association, has called for Russia to be stripped of the 2018 World Cup because of its involvement in the Ukraine civil war.

Boniek, who played at Juventus alongside UEFA president Michel Platini, said he will make his position clear at FIFA's Congress in Zurich next week.

His is the first association to call for such action by FIFA, though politicians including Britain's new sports minister Tracey Crouch said last year that stripping the World Cup should be used as a sanction against Russia.

Boniek told Gazeta Wyborcza: ''When Russia were awarded the 2018 World Cup it was an acceptable decision, but from today's perspective hosting the World Cup

in a country like Russia, which is waging a war openly and has raided another state, is a catastrophic mistake.

''My position on the World Cup in Russia is known to other association presidents and I will make it known again at the FIFA Congress in Zurich.

''The agreement between FIFA and Russia should have a clause so that if a country is at war or is acting contrary to international law, it can remove the World Cup.''

Boniek added that he plans to boycott the 2018 World Cup qualifying draw on July 25 in St Petersburg.

Source: PA