By David Owen in Zurich
October 26 – England 2018 has made a formal complaint to FIFA about its arch-rival, the Russian bid.
The complaint is understood to relate to comments made last week by Alexei Sorokin, the Russian bid leader.
Sorokin highlighted London’s “high crime rate” and youth alcohol problems in an interview that critics had already suggested might contravene FIFA’s bidding rules prohibiting comments about rival bidders.
However, Sorokin later insisted he was misinterpreted, with a statement from the Russians saying he was merely making a comment on how overseas media operated in contrast to Russia.
It is understood that England is demanding a public apology, while accepting that FIFA’s Ethics Committee might struggle to hear its complaint in short order, owing to its heavy current workload.
The development came as bid leaders from Australia, Japan and Russia presented to delegates at the International Football Arena in Zurich.
Russia today responded by saying: “If there is such a formal complaint, we will duly respond to it.”
After being informed of England’s move, Sorokin told insideworldfootball: “The idea behind [what I said] does not require an apology.
“It was an example.
“I had no intention of speaking of London in particular, or of breaking any FIFA rules.”
He said there had been a “multi-tier” misinterpretation”.
“I regret that it turned out this way.”
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