Statement of the so-called president of the Crimean Football Union Yuri Vetochi that FIFA organizes the fan zone of the 2018 World Cup in Crimea, can cause an international scandal.
This opinion was expressed by the authoritative Russian edition of "Soviet Sport", for fear of recognition by the International Football Federation of the annexed peninsula of the territory of the Russian Federation. The resource came out with the title "FIFA recognized Crimea as Russian? The international scandal is coming".
"It became known that FIFA agreed to the organization of fan zones not only in Russian cities that host matches, but also in the Crimea. This, in particular, told the president of the Crimean Football Union Yuri Vetoha. It is not ruled out, however, that this is nothing more than a private opinion of the functionary, "- writes the publication.
It is noted that earlier FIFA did not notice similar sentiments about the Crimea.
"The international officials diligently avoided the topic of the Crimea by sensibly choosing a simple policy: not to fall into a situation where it is necessary to somehow state their position. When a logo of the World Cup was projected onto the Bolshoi Theater a couple of years ago and the contours of the country were clearly visible (where the Crimea was included), this aroused indignation of some international structures. In FIFA, then they said that they would no longer turn to a dubious contractor, but unofficially hinted that they would not use the image of the country in printing products, so that each time they would not be justified before the international structures, then the representatives of the host country, quarrel is not with the hand, "- writes the publication.
It is not ruled out that the words of the Vetoha may be true.
"How to perceive a new turn?" If it occurred not only in the mind of the Vetoha, it is possible that in international sports structures a "trial balloon" is launched and football will serve as an impetus to the normalization of relations. We will see. Then there will be either a refutation, or an international scandal, or a silent "jump off the topic"? "- said in the text.
Source: Browser.