Two Russian lawmakers "have responded to calls" made by U.S. senators for FIFA to prevent Russia from hosting the 2018 World Cup by urging FIFA President Sepp Blatter "to expel the United States from this summer’s World Cup in Brazil over the U.S.’s foreign policy," according to Edward Connolly of the LONDON TIMES. Russia's Alexander Sidyakin and Mikhail Markelov, in a letter to Blatter, said action was needed after the U.S.’s “aggression against several sovereign states like Yugoslavia, Iraq and Libya” and attempts “to occupy Syria.” Their letter "echoed a similar claim" made by two U.S. senators last week to FIFA "to take away the 2018 finals from Russia because of the military intervention in Crimea" (LONDON TIMES, 3/12). REUTERS' Dmitriy Rogovitskiy reported Sidyakin said that the written demand "was a reaction" to a letter sent by U.S. Senators Mark Kirk and Dan Coates. Sidyakin wrote on Twitter, "It's an eye for an eye, a ball for a ball. Don't let the USA take part in the 2014 World Cup! End their membership of FIFA." Sidyakin represents the United Russia party, which "is the largest in the country and is closely associated with President Vladimir Putin, who was once its leader." When contacted, a FIFA spokesperson said that the organization "had no comment" (REUTERS, 3/12).
