Russia 2018: Joseph Blatter invites politicians that are "not particularly happy" to stay at home

"If a few politicians are not particularly happy that we are hosting the World Cup in Russia, then I always tell them: 'Well then, stay at home'," said Joseph Blatter, the president of FIFA, during a meeting to discuss the preparations for the 2018 World Cup in Russia (from 14/06 to 15/07/2018) with Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, in Sochi (RUS) on 20/04/2015.

13 US senators, both Democrats and Republicans, including the former Republican presidential candidate John McCain, sent a letter to FIFA on 31/03/2015 asking it to strip Russia of the 2018 World Cup due to the involvement of this country in the conflict in Ukraine.

"Some people are wanting the World Cup to be taken away from Russia, but we will give one answer to this -- we are involved in football and we will not allow politics to get in the way. Everything is going to plan and nothing will get in the way of Russia hosting the best ever World Cup," said Joseph Blatter on 20/04/2015.

The organisation of the 2018 World Cup is an "enormous task" according to Putin

• "We are not going to disappoint you or any football…