Russian Authorities, FIFA Concerned With St. Petersburg WC Stadium Dispute

Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said that Russian authorities and FIFA "are concerned over a dispute that has halted construction of a key World Cup 2018 stadium," according to the AFP. Work on the futuristic 68,000-seater arena in St. Petersburg, Russia, "was frozen last month because of a contractual disagreement between local authorities and the firm overseeing the construction." The "spaceship-shaped stadium" is scheduled to be a host for seven World Cup games in '18. But it is also "one of four venues chosen to host FIFA Confederations Cup matches, which start in June next year." Mutko: "We're seriously concerned with the construction of the stadium in St. Petersburg." He added that the situation was "under the control" of President Vladimir Putin. Construction of the stadium began in '07, but has been hit by "spiralling bills and missed deadlines." The venue will serve as a home ground for Zenit St. Petersburg after the tournament (AFP, 8/10).