Eight of the Russian airports "likely to be used by teams competing" in this year’s World Cup are owned by "entities now on a U.S. sanctions blacklist, potentially throwing up headaches for teams and the airlines flying them," according to Tétrault-Farber & Stolyarov of REUTERS. Of the eight national federations "whose teams will be based near one of the affected airports," Sweden, Iceland and Poland revealed their current travel plans, Spain referred questions to FIFA and the remaining federations "did not reply." The Polish side "is planning to take a charter flight operated by the country’s flag carrier Lot to Sochi airport -- which is operated by a company owned by sanctioned Russian tycoon Oleg Deripaska." A spokesperson for Lot said that it would "consult lawyers on the issue." FIFA and the local World Cup organizing committee "did not reply to requests for comment" (REUTERS, 4/11).
THE MORE THE MERRIER?: The AP's Calatrava & Harris reported CONMEBOL asked FIFA to expand the World Cup to 48 teams for the '22 tournament in Qatar. FIFA is planning to expand the World Cup from 32 to 48 teams at the '26 edition. But CONMEBOL President Alejandro Domínguez "has asked FIFA President Gianni Infantino to hasten the expansion" (AP, 4/11).
'READY FOR CONTROVERSY': The London TELEGRAPH reported Infantino "is braced for controversy at the World Cup" after the use of VAR was approved last month. However, he believes the implementation of VAR "was a necessary measure as the governing body looks to give its match officials every assistance in making correct decisions" (TELEGRAPH, 4/12).
