World Cup organizers in Russia have defended the possibility of housing teams in '18 in the "volatile North Caucasus regions, including Chechnya," according to James Ellingworth of the AP. The Chechen capital of Grozny is on a "preliminary list of team bases for the tournament despite an incident in December when Islamist militants waged a gun battle with police that left at least 20 dead." Another possible city is Makhachkala in the neighboring region of Dagestan, "which also has a long-running Islamist insurgency." Russia 2018 World Cup CEO Alexei Sorokin said, "There will be inspections but I'm sure there are teams that might prefer Grozny or Makhachkala or other cities where they have good relations with the administration. We have full assurances from the regional authorities that security will be organized at the highest level." Cities hosting training bases require approval from FIFA, Sorokin said, "adding that the process is focused on the suitability of hotels" (AP, 4/29).
HOMEGROWN FOCUS: The AP reported the Russian government "will bring in tough restrictions on the number of foreign players" in the
country's top football league to develop homegrown players for
the 2018 World Cup. Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said that he will "cut back on foreign players in a very tough way." His comments come after a bill allowing the sports ministry to "limit foreign players in team sports passed the first of three readings in the lower house of parliament last week." Current Russian league rules allow clubs to field "up to seven foreigners at any time" (AP, 4/28).
