England ‘absolutely primitive’ – Russian Football Union president

(GSM) – The honorary president of the Russian Football Union has called England ‘absolutely primitive’ for their decision to launch a formal complaint to FIFA about Russia’s rival 2018 World Cup bid.

Viacheslav Koloskov, a former member of FIFA and UEFA’s executive committees, says that his country’s committee should not be afraid of any punishments after their chief executive caused a stir by highlighting London’s ‘high crime rate’ and youth alcohol problems.

England were furious, demanding that Russia be sanctioned for the comments they believe contravene FIFA’s rules about comments on rival World Cup bids.

Koloskov’s told Russian sports website www.championat.ru:”It’s a comical situation. The English are afraid of how badly their bid is going. Their journalists are provoking members of the comittee, and they now say one of the members of our bidding team has spoken out against England in an improper manner.

“I think it’s a raising of tensions, and also an attempt to in some way influence the work of our bidding team.

“These acts have little chance of success. Russia should not be afraid of sanctions. There won’t even be an investigation. The behaviour of the English is absolutely primitive. Instead of talking about their own excellence and merits, they try to put off their opponents.”

On Wednesday, FIFA confirmed they had received a complaint, saying: “We have been in contact with the England and Russia bids in relation to this matter, which is currently pending.”

The England bid team are now seeking a formal apology from Sorokin for his attempt to denigrate their bid before the December 2 voting process.

Sorokin said on Tuesday: “I will provide an explanation to FIFA but I do not feel that what I said originally requires an apology.”