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FIFA Praises 2018 World Cup Host Russia After 'Trouble-Free' Confederations Cup

FIFA praised 2018 World Cup host Russia "following a trouble-free Confederations Cup," according to Bryan Swanson of SKY SPORTS. The competition "concluded without any incidents of crowd trouble" in the 16 games across four host cities. FIFA President Gianni Infantino said, "It has been a great success from many points of view. We were hearing about violence [before the tournament], about incidents, about hooligans, about racism. Well we had nothing, we had no incidents. Everything ran smoothly." Russia 2018 CEO Alexey Sorokin "praised supporters and believes the tournament has changed the perception of Russia" as host of a major football competition. Sorokin: "It's been very successful. The level at which this tournament was organized dispelled many fears and stereotypes about how major events are organized in Russia, how foreign fans are treated." Sorokin believes the issue of Russian hooliganism has been "significantly overblown in some foreign media" and "remains confident the World Cup will be free of racism and discrimination" (SKY SPORTS, 7/3). The BBC reported the use of video technology at the Confederations Cup was criticized following Germany's 1-0 victory over Chile in Sunday's final. Chile defender Gonzalo Jara "appeared to elbow" Germany's Timo Werner in the face during the game, "but got only a yellow card," even after the video assistant referee system was used. Former Arsenal defender Lee Dixon said that the system was a "shambles." Dixon: "If you look at sports that use VAR -- we're the laughing stock." Referees "can decide whether they want help from VAR, although other officials, including the video ones, can suggest he uses the technology." If he does, "he has the choice of trusting the VAR's decision or viewing the footage himself on a screen at the side of the pitch." There were, however, occasions where the technology "proved beneficial" (BBC, 7/2).

NEW EXPERIENCE: ESPN.com's Mark Ogden reported "with just under 12 months to go before the World Cup begins, Russia is undoubtedly way ahead" of Brazil and South Africa at "the same stage of their preparations" for the 2014 and 2010 World Cups, respectively. Russia 2018 "will be a whole new experience" for many traveling supporters because of the Fan ID system which was "successfully" trialed during the Confederations Cup. Supporters get a Fan ID, "which enables them to get match tickets and secure a free Russian visa." Other benefits include "free bus, Metro and train travel in and between host cities." The system "worked well" at the Confederations Cup, although there were "lengthy queues to get into stadiums as IDs were scanned and bags checked." Russia will adopt a zero-tolerance approach to fans "intent on causing trouble" in '18, and the country's determination to project a "strong, secure image was evident throughout the Confederations Cup." Large numbers of police patrolled the streets in each host city, "and they were also deployed on Metro trains, sometimes with dogs, and more often than not, armed" (ESPN.com, 7/3).

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