WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Blatter is running for a fifth term as president of the international governing football body, with the election scheduled to take place at the 65th FIFA Congress in Zurich on May 29, the release explained.
“We strongly encourage you to elect a [FIFA] president who will…work to deny the [Russian President Vladimir] Putin regime the privilege of hosting the 2018 World Cup.”
Hosting the World Cup would provide Russia, the senators claimed, with economic support that would violate US and EU sanctions imposed on Moscow for its alleged involvement in Ukraine’s crisis.
The event could help foster global unity and regional stability, Blatter added.
The FIFA president said that holding the World Cup in Russia would help stabilize the tense situation in Ukraine and urged everyone not to mix military conflict with sport.
Russia's preparations for the forthcoming event were flawless, Blatter said.
On April 2, a FIFA spokesperson rejected a call by 13 US Senators to strip Russia of the honor of hosting the Cup. History has shown, the FIFA spokesperson explained, that boycotting sporting events and policies of isolation are not the most effective ways to solve problems.
The World Cup will be held from June 14 to July 15, 2018 at 12 stadiums in 11 Russian cities, including Moscow, Kazan, Sochi and St. Petersburg among other locations.
