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The FIFA 2018 World Cup Preliminary Draw is expected to be watched by 95 million people across 170 countries, according to the organizers.
Among VIP guests are Brazilian forward Hulk, Ronaldo, Fabio Cannavaro, Alexander Kerzhakov, Rinat Dasaev, Oliver Bierhoff, Diego Forlan, Samuel Eto’O.
They will help the FIFA Secretary General, Jérôme Valcke, in deciding the fates of teams from five of the six confederations participating in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. “This team will also be joined by the captain of the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup winning team – Predrag Rajkovic, from Serbia – and by the captain of the 2015 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup,” says a press release on FIFA’s website.
“The iconic Konstantin Palace in Saint Petersburg will host the first official event of the 2018 FIFA World Cup on 25 July at 18.00 local time (17.00 CET), providing “a glimpse of Russia’s rich culture and music”.
The event is taking place amidst controversy over FIFA and the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. FIFA has been struggling with the scandal over corruption charges brought against some of its officials. Russia has been accused to buying votes as a strategy to win the right to host the 2018 World Cup. A number of nations urged boycott but FIFA has rejected the calls.
Meanwhile, Russia fired the coach of its national team and the head of the Russian Football Union ahead of key qualifiers for Euro 2016.
Fabio Capello reportedly receive 15 million euro as compensation for his early dismissal.
The list of candidates for the top job now features CSKA coach Leonid Slutsky, Oleg Kononov from Krasnodar, and Alexander Borodyuk, former member of the coach team.
After a lackluster performance against Austria, Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko admitted the situation with football in Russia is so desperate that he was ready to take part in the elections of the Russian Football Union. He also told journalists the decision on Capello has been taken. He did not disclose what that decision is, but he promised to make it public by the end of June.
After a lackluster performance against Austria, Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko admitted the situation with football in Russia is so desperate that he was ready to take part in the elections of the Russian Football Union. He also told journalists the decision on Capello has been taken. He did not disclose what that decision is, but he promised to make it public by the end of June.
Earlier, Mutko insisted he would not step down as Sports Minister to head the Russian Football Union. According to him, he is the coordinator in charge of the 2018 World Cup to be hosted by Russia so he has to stay in the job to maintain overall control of the project.
The head of the Russian Football Union was voted out of office after repeated scandals, including over Capello's pay.
Earlier Russia-IC reported that the head of the Russian Football Union was fined over the Fabio Capello pay delay.
Rostrud, the governmental labor watchdog, slapped a 4,000 rouble fine on Nikolay Tolstykh, and a 40,000 rouble fine on the union for failing to comply with the Labor Code. According to the Russian law, they are the employer for the coach of the national team.
Earlier, Russia-IC reported that UEFA President Michel Platini came to Moscow to resolve the Capello pay issue, according to Sovsport.ru, a major Russian sports newspaper.
Sources: http://www.sport-express.ru
Author: Mikhail Vesely
