Fansided

Putin: U.S. wants to steal World Cup from Russia

By Alexandra Huber

Feb 4, 2014; Sochi, RUSSIA; Russian Federation president Vladimir Putin speaks during the Opening of the IOC Session prior to the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games at Zimny Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 4, 2014; Sochi, RUSSIA; Russian Federation president Vladimir Putin speaks during the Opening of the IOC Session prior to the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games at Zimny Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Vladimir Putin believes that the United States’s FIFA probe is a thinly-veiled attempt to steal Russia’s 2018 World Cup.

Breaking News: Putin is saying inflammatory things about the United States again.

During a television appearance on Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that the reason the United States is investigating FIFA is so they can steal the 2018 World Cup. Russia was previously announced as the site for 2018.

Putin called the FIFA investigation “odd” and said it is “yet another evident attempt to derail Mr. Blatter’s re-election as FIFA president.”

On Wednesday, U.S. authorities announced corruption charges against 14 individuals. The same day, seven of the 14 were arrested at a Zurich hotel prior to a FIFA meeting. The reason U.S. officials are even involved is because most of the corruption money allegedly went through U.S. banks.

While there is an ongoing investigation, the upcoming World Cups in 2018 (Russia) and 2022 (Qatar) are not a topic of concern. Rather, it is Swiss investigators who are looking into that. So much for being neutral.

Perhaps Putin should be pointing fingers at the Swiss instead.

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The comical part of Putin’s assertion, however, is how little the U.S. actually cares about soccer. Sure, the MLS is popular in markets like Seattle, Kansas City and Portland, but Americans are somewhat indifferent to the sport all together.

Furthermore, if we’ve learned anything from Boston’s 2024 Olympic bid, it’s that many Americans would rather not have their lives disrupted and inconvenienced by organizing a world-wide sporting event.

So, Russia and Mr. Putin, please keep your World Cup. After all, you did such a great job with the 2014 Olympics in Sochi.

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