Russia nerve agent row may be turning England fans off
New post
Russia nerve agent row may be turning England fans off
Image:Ad campaigns for the World Cup in Russia promise a very well-organised event, but fans seem cautious
Political tensions between the UK and Russia after the Salisbury nerve agent attack could force some England football fans to alter their travel plans for this summer's FIFA World Cup.
Some reports suggest ticket sales to England supporters are nowhere near the level they were for the last tournament in Brazil in 2014, and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has issued new travel advice to anyone intending to visit Russia in June and July.
Russia is making final preparations to host the sport's most prestigious tournament with England playing group games against Tunisia, Panama and Belgium in the cities of Volgograd, Nizhny Novgorod and Kaliningrad.
Given the current political climate between the two countries, the FCO is urging travellers to steer clear of any protests and avoid commenting publicly on political developments while in Russia.
"Due to heightened political tensions between the UK and Russia, you should be aware of the possibility of anti-British sentiment or harassment at this time," warns the official FCO advisory.
Image:Max Bell is planning to go to the World Cup but has scaled back his itinerary
England fan Max Bell, 25, from Scunthorpe had been planning a "two-week trip of a lifetime" with university friends, using public transport to travel across Russia, but has scaled back the itinerary.
"It has been a wrench, trying to work out what to do and where we should stay, but we've made our minds up," Max told Sky News.
"We have decided to fly into Lithuania, stay there and drive up to Kaliningrad just for the final group game against Belgium. This was meant to be the trip of a lifetime but we've changed things round now.
"We've watched the news about Salisbury and followed it all closely and this is what we're going to do.
"Of course, if England progress from the group and go a long way into the knockout stages we will have to look at it again."
One report in The Times suggests the Football Association has sold fewer than 2,000 tickets to official supporters for England's group games against Tunisia and Panama, and England does not even register in the top 10 countries for tickets already sold.
Image:At least one tour operator is promising there is nothing to be concerned about
But one London-based tour operator is adamant that it will be a tournament to remember - for all the right reasons.
"The Russians have been superbly well-organised and extremely hospitable in all our dealings with them," said Miles Saward from Sportoptions.com, the UK's largest football and sports operator.
"We attended the Confederations Cup last year and that went very well indeed. As far as we are concerned it's business as usual. There has been no drop off whatsoever.
"This is England at a World Cup Finals and England fans will travel and enjoy the tournament as they always do.
Dozens of mourners 'killed by Boko Haram' at a funeral in north Nigeria Share this with Facebook Share this with WhatsApp Share this with Messenger Share this with Twitter Share Image copyright AFP Image caption AFP journalists saw charred items and smouldering ashes after the attack At least 65 people have lost their lives after suspected Boko Haram militants opened fire on a funeral in Nigeria's north-eastern state of Borno. Gunmen arrived on motorcycles and in vans at the village near the state capital, Maiduguri, on Saturday, eyewitnesses say. A number of mourners were reportedly killed straight away, while others died trying to chase off the attackers. There has been an increase in Islamist attacks across the region. Local government official Muhammed Bulama said he thought the latest attack was in revenge for the killing of 11 Boko Haram fighters by the villagers two weeks ago. Agence France Presse journalist...
Coconut-Dill Salmon With Green Beans and Corn Time : 40 minutes A fillet of salmon is foil-wrapped and placed on a hot grill to steam in its own juices after being bathed in a fragrant mixture of coconut cream, lemon, and dill. The fish is served with a light salad of fresh corn, tomatoes, green beans, and a sprinkling of feathery dill. The outcome, either warm or cold, is an excellent low-lift dish for a large gathering or a supper that can be prepared ahead of time. INGREDIENTS Yield : 6 to 8 servings 1(2-pound) salmon fillet (skin on or off) 2tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon olive oil Coarse kosher salt (such as Morton) and black pepper 1cup unsweetened coconut cream or coconut milk 2tablespoons dark brown sugar 1tablespoon sherry vinegar 1teaspoon Dijon mustard 1lemon 1cup chopped fresh dill 8ounces green beans, trimmed and halved crosswise 1cup fresh corn kernels (from 1 to 2 ears corn) 1pint cherry tomatoes, lightly crushed open or sliced into halves PREPARATION Step 1 Hea...
Bella Shmurda honors Mohbad with ‘KPK’ performance in UK Nigerian singer and songwriter Bella Shmurda paid homage to his late friend and colleague Mohbad by performing his smash hit ‘KPK’ at a UK show. Mohbad, whose real name was Ilerioluwa Oladimeji, died in a car crash in December 2023, leaving behind a musical legacy that moved many people. Bella Shmurda’s rendition of ‘KPK’ was a heartfelt tribute to his buddy, and it revealed the strength of their bond. In a world where many forget their friends after becoming successful, Bella Shmurda’s act reminded us that true friendship is more than just fame and money. The crowd cheered and sang along to every word of the song. It was an emotional moment that demonstrated the influence of Mohbad’s music on people’s lives, and the admiration and affection that Bella Shmurda had for his friend. After the show, Bella Shmurda talked about his friendship with Mohbad, saying, “He was not just a friend to me. He was like a brother, and I miss h...
The omicron variation side effects you could confront dependent on your COVID antibody status The omicron variation of the novel Covid has turned into the prevailing strain in the United States. Presently, more reports of the omicron variation side effects have begun to rise out of bleeding edge laborers. Dr. Craig Spencer, a trauma center specialist in New York, as of late shared some episodic data regarding what's been found in the trauma center with regards to COVID-19. This is what he found: Each quiet who got a third promoter COVID-19 immunization shot had gentle manifestations. This included sore throat, exhaustion and muscle torment. Patients who had two dosages of Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 antibodies had gentle side effects however more than the people who had three portions. He said there was more weariness, seriously hacking and more hopeless manifestations by and large. The individuals who had one portion of Johnson and Johnson were more awful, feeling terrible with a f...
Comments
Post a Comment
comments below