The United States and its European allies are expelling dozens of Russian diplomats in a co-ordinated response to the poisoning of a former Russian spy in the UK.

It is said to be the largest collective expulsion of Russian intelligence officers in history.

Prime Minister Theresa May said 18 countries have aligned with the UK, expelling more than 100 diplomats.

Russia vowed to retaliate to the "provocative gesture".

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-43545565

ITK is right again !!! .... World Cup is doomed !!!!

It's a wonder that no country has pulled out - 'isn't it, lol' !?

And regarding those who are expelling diplomats, only a few (4/5) are European countries who are in the finals.

The only others are the two in North America (US and Canada), neither of which had a place in Russia.

No other continents or countries are vaguely interested in Salisbury etc. - certainly not any playing in the event!


Which will commence, on schedule, in 79 days time...

In The Know (as always !) wrote:
ITK is right again !!! .... World Cup is doomed !!!!

"Further measures could follow, very soon" - Donald Tusk


As soon as the Russian pair are declared DEAD ?
As soon as the toxic poison is confirmed by the chemical weapons inspectors?

In The Know wrote:
As soon as the Russian pair are declared DEAD ?


More were killed on Derbyshire roads - already this week...

In The Know wrote:
"Further measures could follow, very soon" - Donald Tusk


AFP News Agency (France) reporting - 56 minutes ago, via Twitter - that Iceland will lead diplomatic boycott of Russian World Cup.

Diplomatic, for now ???

many many others WILL follow !

twitter.com/AFP?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7...serp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

All 32 - including Iceland - will play

Diplomatic gestures are meaningless

How many were made about Vietnam!?


Pushkin Square (had a Ryazhenka there once) will be the centre of the world for a month



'lol'

Just confirmed - all 32 teams will play.

Simply because it's what supporters want - coming from every nation on earth.

All 210+ of them (more than the UN), who strived to reach the Russian finals.


People's views/actions are important - those of diplomats, less so...

In The Know wrote:
In The Know wrote:
"Further measures could follow, very soon" - Donald Tusk


AFP News Agency (France) reporting - 56 minutes ago, via Twitter - that Iceland will lead diplomatic boycott of Russian World Cup.

Diplomatic, for now ???

many many others WILL follow !

The Sun reporting that officials from Poland, Iceland, Denmark, Sweden, Australia and Japan are ready to snub their invitations from Moscow.

Australia hints at "further action" and mentioned a World Cup boycott is "possible".
www.cnbc.com/2018/03/27/australia-hints-...ve-agent-attack.html

All part of the "build-up" to the further actions necessary -
- As soon as the Russian pair are declared DEAD ?
- As soon as the toxic poison is confirmed by the chemical weapons inspectors?

The absence of hangers-on, diplomats and royalty will make little difference to the World Cup.

Finals are for the teams to play in, and the supporters to enjoy. The prawn-cocktail merchants were always superfluous.

By this stage, all national federations will have had considerable expenditure - and will want to play.

What is significant - is the indifference of virtually all non-European countries, who are just quietly preparing their squads.

In The Know wrote:
"Further measures could follow, very soon" - Donald Tusk


Five more countries ‘preparing to BOYCOTT 2018 World Cup in show of force against Putin’
www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/691...mir-Putin-spy-attack

ITK knows !!!!!

No World Cup finalists have said they won't be at the finals - any decisions will be made by the relevant governments, as all national associations will want to be there.

Some for the first time - Panama and Iceland.

Even England - where the poisoning incident occurred - don't want to pull out, and see the withdrawal of diplomats to be more appropriate.


Sport must be kept out of politics, and music, and entertainment...

Even the kiddie's footy magazine talking about a boycott now !

'World Cup boycott is the only way left to punish Russia'
www.goal.com/en/news/world-cup-boycott-i...08d5ut11id5r987vgxwt

even the Russians think a boycott is on the way !

“I think it’s the only way they can punish Russia now,” says Alexander Zotov, CEO of the All Russian Football Players Union. “We already have a lot of sanctions in place against the country.

“That’s why it’s being attacked. This theme is coming up all the time. It’s something where you can hurt Russia.”

In the past few years there has been that Russian incursion into Crimea, accusations surrounding the shooting down of Flight MH17, alleged interference in the US elections and the Brexit vote, ongoing support for Bashar al-Assad in Syria but it appears the attack on Sergey Skripal and his daughter Yulia is the straw that broke the camel’s back.

Plenty of British politicians have since spoken out against the World Cup being held on Russian soil this summer.

“I’m switching on different channels from the UK or from the United States or EU countries and they are all saying Russia, Russia, Russia,” says Zotov. “It’s Russia all the time. It’s 24 hours, seven days a week. It’s nonstop.”

“You can see the pressure is mounting,” Zotov says. “Russian diplomats will be expelled from a lot of countries now. And the outcry for boycotting the World Cup is happening every day but let’s see. It’s worrying.”

In the Right wrote:
even the Russians think a boycott is on the way !

“I think it’s the only way they can punish Russia now,” says Alexander Zotov, CEO of the All Russian Football Players Union. “We already have a lot of sanctions in place against the country.

“That’s why it’s being attacked. This theme is coming up all the time. It’s something where you can hurt Russia.”

In the past few years there has been that Russian incursion into Crimea, accusations surrounding the shooting down of Flight MH17, alleged interference in the US elections and the Brexit vote, ongoing support for Bashar al-Assad in Syria but it appears the attack on Sergey Skripal and his daughter Yulia is the straw that broke the camel’s back.

Plenty of British politicians have since spoken out against the World Cup being held on Russian soil this summer.

“I’m switching on different channels from the UK or from the United States or EU countries and they are all saying Russia, Russia, Russia,” says Zotov. “It’s Russia all the time. It’s 24 hours, seven days a week. It’s nonstop.”

“You can see the pressure is mounting,” Zotov says. “Russian diplomats will be expelled from a lot of countries now. And the outcry for boycotting the World Cup is happening every day but let’s see. It’s worrying.”


Wonder who wrote that - certainly not ITK!

Ironically - if the UK had the courage to withdraw the England team from the World Cup - it is very likely that others finalists would follow.

However, the UK continues to sabre-rattle in the background - without decisive action.

Most countries will show a small degree of solidarity (expelling 1 or 2 junior diplomats, like most supporters have) - but serious and meaningful gestures/discord needs a lead from the UK.


So far, conspicuous by its absence...

The President of the Czech Republic, Milos Zeman, has commissioned the Czech Intelligence Service to look into the Russian accusation that Novichok could have been produced and tested in his country.

www.radio.cz/en/section/curraffrs/czech-...gent-row-with-russia

Based on rhetoric, Australia seemed the most likely World Cup finalist to boycott the Russian tournament.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has now confirmed that they will be competing, and the expulsion of a couple of diplomats will suffice.

We can all now look forward to watching the world's greatest sporting event in two and a half months time.


And leave the international community to do what's right, in respect of the poisoning incident - without involving sport.

Spee wrote:
Based on rhetoric, Australia seemed the most likely World Cup finalist to boycott the Russian tournament.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has now confirmed that they will be competing, and the expulsion of a couple of diplomats will suffice.

She has not said anything of the kind.
She made it quite clear that there could be 'next steps', and a boycott is top of the list.

Spee wrote:
Which will commence, on schedule, in 79 days time...

He's counting the days ... HeHeHe
I bet he's got the sticker book too.

'the government is not considering a boycott of the world cup'


Ms Bishop tweeted this on Tuesday (27/3)

Google is your friend...