Russia Should Lose Right to Host 2018 World Cup

Russia should be stripped of the right to host the 2018 soccer World Cup unless Russian President Vladimir Putin stops destabilizing Ukraine, Britain’s Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has said, warning the world would look weak if it did not act.

A spokeswoman for Cameron told Reuters that the British leader was not in favour of taking the World Cup away from Russia at this stage, but signaled his position could change.

“He [Putin] cannot constantly, you know, push the patience of the international community beyond breaking point, destabilize a neighbouring country, protect these armed separatists in the east of Ukraine and still have the privilege and honour of receiving all the accolades in 2018 for being the host nation of the World Cup,” Clegg said.

Clegg said the world would look weak and insincere if it allowed Russia to stage the World Cup without a change of course by Putin in Ukraine.

Britain’s opposition Labour Party also said stripping Russia of the World Cup should be an option if its complicity in the downing of MH17 was proven and if Putin did not change course.