MOSCOW: The Kremlin has denounced British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson’s statement comparing the World Cup in Russia to the Olympics hosted by Nazi Germany as “utterly disgusting.”
The tough response marks an escalating war of words between Moscow and London over the poisoning in southwestern England of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter with a military-grade nerve agent. Britain blamed the attack on Russia, which fiercely denied the accusations.
Johnson agreed Wednesday with a Labour lawmaker who likened the soccer World Cup hosted by Russia this summer to Adolf Hitler’s use of the 1936 Olympics as propaganda for his regime.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov described it Thursday as “the utterly disgusting statement which is unworthy of a foreign minister of any country.” He called Johnson’s words “insulting and unacceptable.”
In response to Johnson's statement on Russia hosting this summer's World Cup, England football manager Gareth Southgate said on Thursday he has "little interest" in the British foreign secretary's opinion.
"I think the rest of the world are viewing it that way," said Southgate when asked if the World Cup could still be a festival of football despite the political cloud.
"It's of little interest to me what the Foreign Secretary thinks about it."
The number of England fans expected to travel to Russia is lower than normal for major tournaments.
Earlier on Thursday, Russia's ambassador to Britain insisted that travelling fans will be safe during the tournament.
And Southgate said his experience of travelling to Russia for last year's Confederations Cup was on a par to previous World Cups.
"I was in Russia last year for the Confederations Cup,," he added.
"I think there were about 15,000 fans from Chile, it was an incredible atmosphere in the stadiums. The stadiums were brilliant, the facilities and training grounds were excellent.
"It felt like the other World Cups I've been to in terms of the experience inside the stadiums and the atmosphere for the games."
The tough response marks an escalating war of words between Moscow and London over the poisoning in southwestern England of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter with a military-grade nerve agent. Britain blamed the attack on Russia, which fiercely denied the accusations.
Johnson agreed Wednesday with a Labour lawmaker who likened the soccer World Cup hosted by Russia this summer to Adolf Hitler’s use of the 1936 Olympics as propaganda for his regime.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov described it Thursday as “the utterly disgusting statement which is unworthy of a foreign minister of any country.” He called Johnson’s words “insulting and unacceptable.”
In response to Johnson's statement on Russia hosting this summer's World Cup, England football manager Gareth Southgate said on Thursday he has "little interest" in the British foreign secretary's opinion.
"I think the rest of the world are viewing it that way," said Southgate when asked if the World Cup could still be a festival of football despite the political cloud.
"It's of little interest to me what the Foreign Secretary thinks about it."
The number of England fans expected to travel to Russia is lower than normal for major tournaments.
Earlier on Thursday, Russia's ambassador to Britain insisted that travelling fans will be safe during the tournament.
And Southgate said his experience of travelling to Russia for last year's Confederations Cup was on a par to previous World Cups.
"I was in Russia last year for the Confederations Cup,," he added.
"I think there were about 15,000 fans from Chile, it was an incredible atmosphere in the stadiums. The stadiums were brilliant, the facilities and training grounds were excellent.
"It felt like the other World Cups I've been to in terms of the experience inside the stadiums and the atmosphere for the games."
