Ukraine want to use football to increase pressure on Moscow.
Ukrainian ambassador to #EU tells me one sanction they will push for if Moscow doesn’t back down is expel Russia from World Cup this summer
— Chris Morris (@_ChrisMorris) March 3, 2014
Ukraine want to use football to solve their escalating dispute with neighbours Russia.
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The BBC’s Europe correspondent Chris Morris says the Ukrainian ambassador will lobby FIFA for Russia’s expulsion from next summer’s World Cup in Brazil, if Moscow refuses to back down.
Russian troops are currently occupying the Ukrainian territory of Crimea and there is a genuine threat that mainland Ukraine could soon be invaded.
The Russian national team are managed by former England boss Fabio Capello. They finished top of their qualifying group to secure automatic qualification for Brazil, with Portugal later beating Sweden in a play-off.
If Russia were expelled, presumably Sweden would be handed a place at the tournament.