SUTCLIFFE: 2018 WORLD CUP BID COULD BE JEOPARDISED
Gerald Sutcliffe, the Minister for Sport and Tourism, has urged Manchester United and Chelsea supporters attending tomorrow's Champions League final at Moscow to behave themselves.
The Bradford South Labour MP, who took his cabinet position last June, was dismayed at the clashes between Glasgow Rangers' fans and police, as well as Zenit St. Petersburg supporters, after the Uefa Cup final in Manchester last Wednesday.
And he fears that any more violence could mark an indelible stain on England's 2018 World Cup bid.
Sutcliffe, who will be present at the Luzhniki Stadium, said: "We are hoping for a great game, a wonderful occasion and I am looking forward to what should be a fantastic advert for British football. Hopefully tonight will go without any hitches.
"Bad behaviour could very much jeopardise our 2018 bid. The World Cup is a showpiece event and what people don't want is violence attached to it. We want to have a very strong bid for 2018 and we want a maximum unity in the country to make sure that we are successful.
"We believe that we already have the stadia for 2018, but we want more than that. We want to show people that we can create a legacy for football throughout the world."
Sutcliffe, a Manchester United supporter, continued: "But we won't be successful if we have situations like last week in Manchester. The main concern for me about last week was the reports from the Zenit St. Petersburg manager [Dick Advocaat] himself and from Uefa.
"I have been very strong since I have been sports minister to try to have a zero tolerance to racism in sport. I am concerned by some of the comments that have been made. Things were ruined in Manchester last week by a small number of people - it is unacceptable behaviour."
Gerald Sutcliffe, the Minister for Sport and Tourism, has urged Manchester United and Chelsea supporters attending tomorrow's Champions League final at Moscow to behave themselves.
The Bradford South Labour MP, who took his cabinet position last June, was dismayed at the clashes between Glasgow Rangers' fans and police, as well as Zenit St. Petersburg supporters, after the Uefa Cup final in Manchester last Wednesday.
And he fears that any more violence could mark an indelible stain on England's 2018 World Cup bid.
Sutcliffe, who will be present at the Luzhniki Stadium, said: "We are hoping for a great game, a wonderful occasion and I am looking forward to what should be a fantastic advert for British football. Hopefully tonight will go without any hitches.
"Bad behaviour could very much jeopardise our 2018 bid. The World Cup is a showpiece event and what people don't want is violence attached to it. We want to have a very strong bid for 2018 and we want a maximum unity in the country to make sure that we are successful.
"We believe that we already have the stadia for 2018, but we want more than that. We want to show people that we can create a legacy for football throughout the world."
Sutcliffe, a Manchester United supporter, continued: "But we won't be successful if we have situations like last week in Manchester. The main concern for me about last week was the reports from the Zenit St. Petersburg manager [Dick Advocaat] himself and from Uefa.
"I have been very strong since I have been sports minister to try to have a zero tolerance to racism in sport. I am concerned by some of the comments that have been made. Things were ruined in Manchester last week by a small number of people - it is unacceptable behaviour."
Labels: Champions League, Chelsea, Gerald Sutcliffe, Glasgow Rangers, Manchester United, Zenit St. Petersburg
