Moving World Cup would cause Putin serious pain

NOW it is established that Vladimir Putin sanctioned a deadly attack on two people on British soil. And now US President Donald Trump has also joined in the worldwide condemnation.

Elsewhere the Russian president seems to be launching cyber attacks on the entire world. But if we accept that is the case, should there not at the very least be a debate in Parliament about whether we should attend this summer’s World Cup?

As matters stand we are playing straight into the hands of Putin’s PR machine. In his grandstanding he seems to be trying to unite the world by bringing it to Russia while dividing it by his actions elsewhere.

We, meanwhile, are both accepting his ability to carry out an assassination on foreign soil while at the same time – quite literally – agreeing to play ball with him. Where is the sense in that?

If you bring this down to its most basic level, if one member of a family attacked another, would they want to chinwag over Christmas lunch? It is the same set-up only at an international level. To look at it another way, should this not be the subject of an international debate as well? The attack might have taken place on British soil but the UK, US, France and Germany have released a joint statement condemning it.

Perhaps we should move the World Cup. It’s not too late. In 1948 the Olympics were put together quickly following a 12-year hiatus because of the war. We did it then and we could do it again. Why not?