World Cup Russia

[cduff]

I know that we generally avoid politics on these forums (and rightly so) but this has a football angle.
I also hope that I'm not jumping the gun here but IF (big IF) it is proven that Russia (or Pro Russian/Russian backed) forces were involved in the o/night Malaysian Airlines crash, do we think that the next WC in Russia should be used as a tool to pull Russia into line? I know there are many countries around the world who flout world opinion but I think Russia's general treatment of its neighbours (and its own citizens) is quite scarey in a historical context. To date, the limited sanctions have not had any effect and indeed with huge energy resources, Russia has the upper hand over much of Europe. One thing that might make "Vlad the Bad" sit up and take notice is a potential boycott or switch of WC 2018. England (who I reckon were dudded in the FIFA voting process anyway) would be an obvious candidate to host instead, as they have all of the infrastructure in place.

 

[bizzaro]

I know that we generally avoid politics on these forums (and rightly so) but this has a football angle.
I also hope that I'm not jumping the gun here but IF (big IF) it is proven that Russia (or Pro Russian/Russian backed) forces were involved in the o/night Malaysian Airlines crash, do we think that the next WC in Russia should be used as a tool to pull Russia into line? I know there are many countries around the world who flout world opinion but I think Russia's general treatment of its neighbours (and its own citizens) is quite scarey in a historical context. To date, the limited sanctions have not had any effect and indeed with huge energy resources, Russia has the upper hand over much of Europe. One thing that might make "Vlad the Bad" sit up and take notice is a potential boycott or switch of WC 2018. England (who I reckon were dudded in the FIFA voting process anyway) would be an obvious candidate to host instead, as they have all of the infrastructure in place.

Russia needs the EU for foreign currency to keep its economy going. Russia's econony is dominated by oil and gas. Europe can switch supply and has a diversified economy.

The issue is that suuply is then dominated by Qatar and the middle east. By LNG shipments to the UK as example

The US is hoping to export more shale gas.

To bring Russia to line you'd need to switch quickly and shock their economy.

Funnily enough thats what was starting Wednesday the US and EU began widening sanctions against banks and oil industry

Then the shock started

http://www.theguardian.com/business...et-hit-by-new-ukraine-sanctions-business-live

 

[hullefc]

I know that we generally avoid politics on these forums (and rightly so) but this has a football angle.
I also hope that I'm not jumping the gun here but IF (big IF) it is proven that Russia (or Pro Russian/Russian backed) forces were involved in the o/night Malaysian Airlines crash, do we think that the next WC in Russia should be used as a tool to pull Russia into line? I know there are many countries around the world who flout world opinion but I think Russia's general treatment of its neighbours (and its own citizens) is quite scarey in a historical context. To date, the limited sanctions have not had any effect and indeed with huge energy resources, Russia has the upper hand over much of Europe. One thing that might make "Vlad the Bad" sit up and take notice is a potential boycott or switch of WC 2018. England (who I reckon were dudded in the FIFA voting process anyway) would be an obvious candidate to host instead, as they have all of the infrastructure in place.

The blame 'Russia' lobby could be trying to derail the BRICS development bank before it gets off the ground.

'The Brics bank could also be a vital source of finance for infrastructure that Africa so desperately needs.' Photograph: Lan Hongguang/Xinhua Press/Corbis
The leaders of the Brics countries – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – have signed a treaty in the Brazilian city of Fortaleza tolaunch a Brics development bank.

The bank will rival the US- and European-led World Bank and its private lending affiliate, the International Finance Corporation, which have dominated development finance since the second world war. The Brics bank is positioned as a financial institution that will provide developing countries with alternative funding minus the punishing strings attached to World Bank lending, which strip recipient countries of the power to make their own policies. It also promises to make lending processes for developing countries faster, simpler and cheaper.

The Brics members will set up a $100bn contingency reserve pool (called the contingent reserve arrangement, or CRA), to help members who face sudden foreign capital flights. China will contribute $41bn, Russia, Brazil and India $18bn each, and South Africa $5bn.

Developing countries have long failed to get industrial nations to either give them a bigger say in decision-making at the World Bank and IMF, or to get these institutions to ease up on punishing and inappropriate structural adjustment programmes (that wealthy countries themselves would never implement in their own economies) in return for funding.

The new bank and the contingency fund are therefore the first real and practical attempts by developing countries to create a monetary, development-finance and trade alternative to the IMF, World Bank and the dominance of the US dollar.

There is no reason to take the world cup off Russia and it would stretch the point of credibility to give it to England.

 

[ijjysmith]

4 years away really.

They might have taken over the world by then anyway.

 

[Ashtonian]

What is incredible is FIFA's decision making.

2022 is bribed and bought for Quatar despite it being detriment to health to actually play there.

2018 is currently taking land from ukraine and resorting to, amongst other things shooting down planes now that dare fly over.


where to next? Israel and Palestine?

 

[cduff]

"Vlad the Bad" says that Ukraine must take the blame (Allegedly, for Pro Russian forces mistakenly shooting down a commercial aircraft thinking it was a Ukrainian transport plane)!
My main point here is that sometimes sport can be used as a tool against these tools. The sports boycott of South Africa for instance really hurt them, sent a loud moral message from other countries and certainly played a part in the eventual end of apartheid.

 

[Pat's Van]

Rocky IV



*taps nose

 

[Khalekan]

I know that we generally avoid politics on these forums (and rightly so) but this has a football angle.
I also hope that I'm not jumping the gun here but IF (big IF) it is proven that Russia (or Pro Russian/Russian backed) forces were involved in the o/night Malaysian Airlines crash, do we think that the next WC in Russia should be used as a tool to pull Russia into line? I know there are many countries around the world who flout world opinion but I think Russia's general treatment of its neighbours (and its own citizens) is quite scarey in a historical context. To date, the limited sanctions have not had any effect and indeed with huge energy resources, Russia has the upper hand over much of Europe. One thing that might make "Vlad the Bad" sit up and take notice is a potential boycott or switch of WC 2018. England (who I reckon were dudded in the FIFA voting process anyway) would be an obvious candidate to host instead, as they have all of the infrastructure in place.

Why?

The World Cup was held in the USA six years after that country shot down an Iranian passenger jet killing about 300 people.

 

[cduff]

Fair point about the USA. They have plenty to answer for too. I guess I really don't like the whole Putin package. Manipulating the political system, suppressing the press and opposition, lining the pockets of a new oligarchy, invading your neighbours AND dubiously getting the WC.

 

[Billy Dean]

I know that we generally avoid politics on these forums (and rightly so) but this has a football angle.
I also hope that I'm not jumping the gun here but IF (big IF) it is proven that Russia (or Pro Russian/Russian backed) forces were involved in the o/night Malaysian Airlines crash, do we think that the next WC in Russia should be used as a tool to pull Russia into line? I know there are many countries around the world who flout world opinion but I think Russia's general treatment of its neighbours (and its own citizens) is quite scarey in a historical context. To date, the limited sanctions have not had any effect and indeed with huge energy resources, Russia has the upper hand over much of Europe. One thing that might make "Vlad the Bad" sit up and take notice is a potential boycott or switch of WC 2018. England (who I reckon were dudded in the FIFA voting process anyway) would be an obvious candidate to host instead, as they have all of the infrastructure in place.

The last sentence of your post is truly hilarious. Kudos.

 

[cduff]

The last sentence of your post is truly hilarious. Kudos.

Really? What in particular?

 

[rascal]

Russia will be a interesting place to go to. Much better than England. I've been to England enough times already, never been to Russia and I'm looking forward to it.

 

[Billy Dean]

Me too always wanted to go there. I will def try to get out there in 2018 (before too). Should be every bit as ace as Brazil. Moscow, St Pete's, Trans Siberian railway, Girls of the World Cup 2018 GOT thread etc etc

 

[Billy Dean]

Really? What in particular?

Talking about taking the WC off Russia for bad behaviour on the geopolitical stage and then proposing England as an alternative. Just made me chuckle!

 

[TheFinnFan]