Should England withdraw from the World Cup

paulatky · Post by **paulatky** » Tue Mar 06, 2018 6:35 pm

Due to the Russian Spy poisoning issue.
Will be very difficult to still compete

ElectroClaret · Post by **ElectroClaret** » Tue Mar 06, 2018 6:41 pm

We'll probably be out after three games anyway.

Might as well keep the plane warmed up ont' runway.

Quickenthetempo · Post by **Quickenthetempo** » Tue Mar 06, 2018 6:44 pm

Russia have done far worse than this so why act now?

Rick_Muller · Post by **Rick_Muller** » Tue Mar 06, 2018 6:48 pm

Quickenthetempo wrote:Russia have done far worse than this so why act now?

Because Boris said so...

Wile E Coyote · Post by **Wile E Coyote** » Tue Mar 06, 2018 6:54 pm

probably, russians are murderous ******* at the moment, widespread slaughter unabated in syria, mayhem with ukranies gas supplies.
constantly sending drug addled cheats into every single sporting event they enter.
they are a disgrace.
but we wont...naturally

CnBtruntru · Post by **CnBtruntru** » Tue Mar 06, 2018 6:56 pm

At least it will save fans a lot of money and a good beating by the friendly Russian (Putin) mafia.

ClaretAndJew · Post by **ClaretAndJew** » Tue Mar 06, 2018 7:03 pm

Someone will be murdered in Russia guaranteed.

Croydon Claret · Post by **Croydon Claret** » Tue Mar 06, 2018 7:05 pm

The proposal, according to 5 live, was that SHOULD Russia be proved complicit then no English officials would attend, the players would travel regardless.

CnBtruntru · Post by **CnBtruntru** » Tue Mar 06, 2018 7:06 pm

There are around 144 million people in Russia and probably 120 million have already served in the forces, so all will be capable of firing a gun and drinking large amounts of Vodka, so would I ever go there, categorical NO.

Wile E Coyote · Post by **Wile E Coyote** » Tue Mar 06, 2018 7:12 pm

spineless though really, we knew china tortures and imprisons without trial thousands each year, they have an horrendous human rights record too, but as long as there's trade deals to be done, or arms agreements, no one really cares less.we let them enter events, and happily join in as if nothing ever happened.Gutless.

Stayingup · Post by **Stayingup** » Tue Mar 06, 2018 7:24 pm

Terrible regime in Russia. Awful place. Look at the winter Olympics. Banned and not the first time. If a link.is proved between them and these poisonings we should definitely pull out. Probably should anyway
Agent Cob wouldn't like it though.

Vegas Claret · Post by **Vegas Claret** » Tue Mar 06, 2018 7:28 pm

things never change unless people take a stance. Plus, we are ****. So it's a stay at home from me

boatshed bill · Post by **boatshed bill** » Tue Mar 06, 2018 7:31 pm

Might as well withdraw. Our attempts to get involved are pointless.

basil6345789 · Post by **basil6345789** » Tue Mar 06, 2018 7:33 pm

Spying is a hazardous occupation - not worth the big money and you end up dead. Why all the fuss?

TheFamilyCat · Post by **TheFamilyCat** » Tue Mar 06, 2018 7:34 pm

Surely it's worth the risk that they poison Dele Alli?

boatshed bill · Post by **boatshed bill** » Tue Mar 06, 2018 7:34 pm

TheFamilyCat wrote:Surely it's worth the risk that they poison Dele Alli?

mdd2 · Post by **mdd2** » Tue Mar 06, 2018 7:57 pm

We can consider that when we know the Russian Government was involved.

evensteadiereddie · Post by **evensteadiereddie** » Tue Mar 06, 2018 8:01 pm

It's not as if our spooks have ever bumped anybody off, is it ?

mdd2 · Post by **mdd2** » Tue Mar 06, 2018 8:02 pm

Don't think we would find out

TractorFace · Post by **TractorFace** » Tue Mar 06, 2018 8:07 pm

If a nation state committed this act of terrorism. If this is so, and it is indeed Russia, then I actually agree with BJ on this one.

Clarets4me · Post by **Clarets4me** » Tue Mar 06, 2018 8:08 pm

Governments were happy enough for British Teams to play in Mexico in 1970 ( One party state, an estimated 600 protesters killed in one day the year before ), Argentina in 1978 ( Military Dictatorship, roughly 7,000 political opponents "disappeared" between 1976-1983 ) , to say nothing of Russian, Mexican and Chinese Olympic games and countless other World and European Championships held in all manner of Sports...

The only time they've actively tried to prevent Teams travelling, is to South Africa....and even then the 1974 & 1980 Lions Tours went ahead....

TractorFace · Post by **TractorFace** » Tue Mar 06, 2018 8:10 pm

But were any of those countries killing people on UK soil?

KRBFC · Post by **KRBFC** » Tue Mar 06, 2018 8:19 pm

I think the whole footballing world should boycott the World Cup in Russia. I wonder if anybody on here is planning to travel?

Dark Cloud · Post by **Dark Cloud** » Tue Mar 06, 2018 8:26 pm

Not yet, but when masked psychopaths maraud through the streets randomly smashing up men, women and children just because they don't support Russia shortly after the opening game, then we probably should pull out!

evensteadiereddie · Post by **evensteadiereddie** » Tue Mar 06, 2018 8:37 pm

TractorFace wrote:If a nation state committed this act of terrorism. If this is so, and it is indeed Russia, then I actually agree with BJ on this one.

I'm not sure how this can be construed as "terrorism". An execution more like, a risk spies - double agents especially - take, I assume.

TractorFace · Post by **TractorFace** » Tue Mar 06, 2018 8:47 pm

evensteadiereddie wrote:I'm not sure how this can be construed as "terrorism". An execution more like, a risk spies - double agents especially - take, I assume.

Well it's now being investigated by our counter-terrorism officers.

bluelabrador16 · Post by **bluelabrador16** » Tue Mar 06, 2018 8:57 pm

Definitely No.

I'm glad to notice that there is no one who has fallen for the constant propaganda against Russia by our compliant media.

Dark Cloud · Post by **Dark Cloud** » Tue Mar 06, 2018 9:07 pm

They hadn't been to "Subway" had they? Could explain a lot.

evensteadiereddie · Post by **evensteadiereddie** » Tue Mar 06, 2018 9:11 pm

TractorFace wrote:Well it's now being investigated by our counter-terrorism officers.

A political decision. Complete crap.

fatboy47 · Post by **fatboy47** » Tue Mar 06, 2018 9:19 pm

TractorFace wrote:If a nation state committed this act of terrorism. If this is so, and it is indeed Russia, then I actually agree with BJ on this one.

how can you agree with a blow job??

Rick_Muller · Post by **Rick_Muller** » Tue Mar 06, 2018 9:51 pm

fatboy47 wrote:how can you agree with a blow job??

How can you not?

TractorFace · Post by **TractorFace** » Tue Mar 06, 2018 10:18 pm

evensteadiereddie wrote:A political decision. Complete crap.

Really? Well fair enough, but I think I'll go along with what the Scotland Yard's counter-terrorism chief is saying, rather than some random on a football forum.

Siddo · Post by **Siddo** » Tue Mar 06, 2018 10:44 pm

What a ridiculous opening post.

mdd2 · Post by **mdd2** » Tue Mar 06, 2018 11:30 pm

evensteadiereddie wrote:I'm not sure how this can be construed as "terrorism". An execution more like, a risk spies - double agents especially - take, I assume.

Has one of them died?

cricketfieldclarets · Post by **cricketfieldclarets** » Tue Mar 06, 2018 11:44 pm

It was probably brits or yanks doing the poisoning!

grapidianclaret · Post by **grapidianclaret** » Wed Mar 07, 2018 1:52 am

Yes. Pull out the team but send Hart and a case of head and shoulders.

Vegas Claret · Post by **Vegas Claret** » Wed Mar 07, 2018 5:42 am

TheFamilyCat wrote:Surely it's worth the risk that they poison Dele Alli?

evensteadiereddie · Post by **evensteadiereddie** » Wed Mar 07, 2018 6:37 am

TractorFace wrote:Really? Well fair enough, but I think I'll go along with what the Scotland Yard's counter-terrorism chief is saying, rather than some random on a football forum.

That's the spirit ! Never question anything, just accept what the authorities need you to believe.

beddie · Post by **beddie** » Wed Mar 07, 2018 8:15 am

Unfortunately as tragic as this current situation is there's no chance of pulling out, too much money involved.

Lancasterclaret · Post by **Lancasterclaret** » Wed Mar 07, 2018 8:20 am

They shouldn't have got the World Cup in the first place (remember that the only country to fully compile with FIFAs hilariously corrupt attempt to clear Qatar and Russia was us)

We should always keep sport and politics separate, but I'm fully expecting Russia to have a team of drugged up super footballers that no one has ever heard of (or blatant VAR cheating) to make sure Russia get out of the opening group.

Putin is a communist propaganda artist to his core, and anything else will not be allowed to happen.

Foshiznik · Post by **Foshiznik** » Wed Mar 07, 2018 8:30 am

Anyone hear that former Kremlin advisor on Talksport this morning? Very fair, reasoned and balanced argument.

Lancasterclaret · Post by **Lancasterclaret** » Wed Mar 07, 2018 10:06 am

I look at the dead bodies in Syria and the Ukraine to be honest and it does seriously affect my judgement of Putin's Russia.

Oh, and an appreciation of what the Soviet Union was, what it did and what lessons a former KGB colonel has taken into being President.

Oh, and the dead journalists and opposition politicians.

cricketfieldclarets · Post by **cricketfieldclarets** » Wed Mar 07, 2018 10:18 am

Lancasterclaret wrote:They shouldn't have got the World Cup in the first place (remember that the only country to fully compile with FIFAs hilariously corrupt attempt to clear Qatar and Russia was us)

We should always keep sport and politics separate, but I'm fully expecting Russia to have a team of drugged up super footballers that no one has ever heard of (or blatant VAR cheating) to make sure Russia get out of the opening group.

Putin is a communist propaganda artist to his core, and anything else will not be allowed to happen.

as ridiculous as that sounds its hard not to lsugh. Drugged up superfootballers. Sounds like something Alan Partridge would come out with!

TractorFace · Post by **TractorFace** » Wed Mar 07, 2018 10:27 am

evensteadiereddie wrote:That's the spirit ! Never question anything, just accept what the authorities need you to believe.

Please don't be so presumptuous. I'm can be one of the most cynical people going. FYI: I just happen to think that a foreign power killing someone, or attempting to kill, on UK soil is an act of terrorism, call it state terrorism if you like. I feel that our govt has called this one right, you apparently don't, however this doesn't mean I suddenly never question anything. You certainly have strange logic.

dermotdermot · Post by **dermotdermot** » Wed Mar 07, 2018 10:30 am

So every time someone falls ill on a park bench, it’s all Putin’s fault. Anything could have happened. There could have been something on the linguine that didn’t agree with them. They could have been part of a suicide pact. An old adversary might have caught up with him and taken retribution over something. There are hundreds of possible explanations. But no, we have to assume that the Russian government was involved and think about boycotting the World Cup.

Lancasterclaret · Post by **Lancasterclaret** » Wed Mar 07, 2018 10:35 am

as ridiculous as that sounds its hard not to lsugh. Drugged up superfootballers. Sounds like something Alan Partridge would come out with!

You should read about what the Soviet Union claimed it had done!

My favourite bit when I was studying it was the fear of reporting failure, so that they would produce millions of tonnes of completely useless steel which would then be reported as a record production (they'd make the foreman a Hero of the Soviet Union or something) and when it all went wrong they would blame it all on "anti-communist agents and saboteurs".

Reading about the various five year plans, collectivisation and the like isn't everyones cup of tea, but the propaganda around it all is a lesson everyone should learn.

Lancasterclaret · Post by **Lancasterclaret** » Wed Mar 07, 2018 10:37 am

Dermot, the thing is that Putin has got previous for bumping off opponents, and bumping them off so that everyone knows who has done it.

It might not be Putin. But its the first thing I thought when I heard about it and when RT denied it, then I was sure it was.

Tribesmen · Post by **Tribesmen** » Wed Mar 07, 2018 10:54 am

Yep England should pull , super idea .

Errrrrr can Ireland have their place please ........

lucs86 · Post by **lucs86** » Wed Mar 07, 2018 11:16 am

Instant reaction was 'definitely no, complete overreaction'. But thinking about it I wouldn't mind if we took a stance on this for a mixture of moral and practical reasons. We're not going to win or even do well, so save ourselves the hype/hope. Some fans will get killed by Russian hooligans whilst over there, if the team don't go the fans won't go. I've no doubt whatsoever that Russia won the right to host with corruption. Inexperienced refs using VAR could easily turn into catastrophe in terms of the football. There will be monkey chanting from the fans. USA already boycotted by not qualifying and we don't want morally outmanoeuvring by Trump. And f*** Putin, corrupt tactics used to maintain power in his own country and it seems like he's getting pretty confident with foreign policy now too, seemingly involved in lots of activity sowing instability in the West - nothing that ever sticks of course, all legit...

As far as big showpiece 'f** you's go, us withdrawing (and maybe one or two more following) would be a pretty good one, a bit petulant but would definitley cause some chaos for FIFA and embarrassment and frustration for Putin. Do it, see what happens, it'll be more interesting than the football.

lucs86 · Post by **lucs86** » Wed Mar 07, 2018 12:25 pm

For what it's worth there's no way on earth we'll be withdrawing. The FA and government can talk about morality and leadership but there's nowhere near enough backbone or conviction between them to show it.