Russia to Retain World Cup Hosting Rights

Fifa President Gianni Infantino has maintained that Russian will retain the right to host the 2018 football World Cup, despite the recent revelations  regarding the Russian doping scandal. The Russian location of Sochi has already been stripped as the host of the 2017 Bobsleigh and Skeleton World Championships in response to the controversy, which has seen over 1000 Russian athletes implicated in a systematic doping program.

The McLaren report, a two-stage investigation by Canadian lawyer Richard McLaren, revealed details of a ‘state-sponsored’ doping program that affected 30 sports including football. Specific allegations surrounding the Russian youth football teams and the Russian Premier League have been made.

Infantino has confirmed that there are no plans to strip Russia of the World Cup, saying, ‘Fifa is not the world police’.