World Cup 2018

[MRSH]

Russia? What a disgrace. FIFA should be well and truly ashamed of themselves.

Even within this great sport you can't get away from the politics that are blighting everything in this world.

With the truly exceptional English presentation this morning some sad FIFA executives just don't want to see anything going England's way.

What a sad day.

[Maestro]

More corruption in Russia. More backhanders to be had.

[astreet83]

Gutted angry and shocked

Russia??????? HOW?????

[PeterBale]

Gutted angry and shocked

Russia??????? HOW?????

They seem to place a lot of emphasis on the provision of new facilities, and the fostering of the game in areas where there is poor representation.

If that was their priority, a bid from one of the best-equipped and established nations was not going to stand a chance

[MoominDave]

Fewer shoddy Olympics projects already disastrously underway...

[animal.22]

Shut up grizzleing, the country has just been saved a shed load of money that we could ill afford at the moment.

[johnmartin]

Russia? What a disgrace. FIFA should be well and truly ashamed of themselves.

Why?

Whilst I would have loved the World Cup to be in England I don't see why its a disgrace that Russia won it. Russia is far from the backward economy that typified the USSR. They are now one of the richest countries in the world, with a government that is keen to improve the infrastructure of the nation. The World Cup will help them drive forward these projects and there may well be spin off benefits for the rest of Europe in terms of a softening of Russian foreign policy. We should be more worried about the 2022 tournament being awarded to a nation in the heart of the middle east (what if Israel qualify).