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‘Football beyond politics - shame some politicians don’t get that’ - Russia 2018 World Cup Chief on attempts to undermine the tournament

With days remaining until the 21st FIFA World Cup kicks off in Russia, the head of the Local Organising Committee Alexey Sorokin speaks about the readiness of the host cities, novelties at the upcoming tournament, and attempts to undermine it. 

It’s unfortunate that “some officials don’t fully understand or don’t fully accept the principle of football being beyond politics,” said Sorokin, commenting on the UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson’s comparison of the World Cup in Russia to the 1936 Olympics in Nazi Germany. Still, fans “vote for the World Cup in Russia with their money,” Sorokin adds.

The stadiums in all 11 host cities are ready, according to Sorokin. Despite the US White House issuing a travel warning, “every guest should be confident that all the measures are being taken” to ensure fans’ safety at the World Cup. Sorokin also touches on the Fan-ID system, which allows tournament guests to enter Russia without a visa, as well as enjoying free train travel between the host cities. 

Tune in for the full interview with Alexey Sorokin on SophieCo.



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