Australia to expel two Russian diplomats over UK nerve agent attack, hints at World Cup boycott

[TomSea]

Australia to expel two Russian diplomats over UK nerve agent attack, hints at World Cup boycott
Reuters Staff

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia will expel two Russian diplomats in response to a nerve agent attack on a former Russian spy in Britain that the British government has blamed on Moscow, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said on Tuesday.

The United States said on Monday it would expel 60 Russian diplomats, joining governments across Europe in punishing the Kremlin. In total, 100 Russian diplomats were being removed, the biggest Western expulsion of Russian diplomats since the height of the Cold War.

Read more at: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-russia-australia/australia-to-expel-two-russian-diplomats-over-uk-nerve-agent-attack-hints-at-world-cup-boycott-idUSKBN1H22ZB

Surely, they too, mean their leaders might boycott, we might see some country decide they will boycott totally.... it certainly is at an inconvenient time.

[TomSea]

Daily Mail:

Australia to BOYCOTT the 2018 Soccer World Cup: Julie Bishop reveals the Socceroos WON'T travel to Russia unless spy scandal is resolved

    The Australian government has expelled two Russian spies from the country
    A range of further actions could be taken, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said
    'Boycott of the World Cup is one that could be taken in relation to this matter'

By Max Margan For Daily Mail Australia and Australian Associated Press

Published: 22:09 EDT, 26 March 2018 | Updated: 23:09 EDT, 26 March 2018

The Socceroos may be forced to boycott the 2018 Russia World Cup after the side sweated through the longest qualification route in Australia's history.

In response to a growing diplomatic crisis, the federal government is expelling two Russian spies after a poisoning episode in the United Kingdom earlier this month.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5547735/Australia-BOYCOTT-2018-Soccer-World-Cup.html#ixzz5AuqkceJE
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Maybe they will bolt, then, undoubtedly, others would follow.

After the Olympics the US boycotted, that in many people's eyes did not turn out well, those were "amateur" athletes too, if I have that correct. Soccer players for the most part, are highly paid professionals though, some of these guys may not be huge stars... kind of like our guys.

Former Liverpool and Chelsea chief urges Britain to join with Germany, France and Spain and boycott World Cup
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/former-liverpool-chelsea-chief-urges-12216779

That would sink the World Cup....

[TomSea]

ESPN:  Australian Government rules out World Cup boycott
http://www.espn.com/soccer/australia/story/3432664/australian-government-rules-out-world-cup-boycott