When asked whether senior FA
officials should also not go to the World Cup - which runs from 14 June to 15
July - Mrs May said: "I'm sure they will want to be considering their
position. "Attendance at sporting events is a matter for the sporting
authorities - it's a matter for them." In a statement, the FA said it will
"continue to work closely with the UK government and relevant
authorities".
"Our priority for all England
matches is to ensure the safety and security of the fans, players and staff. As
is standard practice, we will take all travel guidance from the Foreign and
Commonwealth Office," it added. On Wednesday, the Foreign Office updated
its advice for those visiting Russia. It said UK nationals in the country
should be "aware of the possibility of anti-British sentiment or
harassment" due to "heightened political tensions between the UK and
Russia". It said the British Embassy in Moscow was "not aware of any
increased difficulties for British people travelling in Russia at this
time" but recommended UK nationals "remain vigilant, avoid any
protests or demonstrations and avoid commenting publically on political
developments".
Mrs May, speaking at Prime
Minister's Questions, said the government would "look at security and
protection of any UK football fans travelling to the World Cup". She also
announced the UK will expel 23 Russian diplomats and revoke an invitation to
the Russian foreign minister to visit the country. Russia denies being involved
in the attempted murder of Sergei Skripal.
Tensions between the UK and Russia are running high over the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter. Sergei Skripal, 66, and Yulia Skripal, 33, were found on March 4 slumped on a bench near a shopping centre in Salisbury, Wiltshire, and taken to hospital. A police officer who fell ill after attending the incident - Det Sgt Nick Bailey - was also taken to hospital. According to Prime Minister Theresa May , the nerve agent which poisoned them was one of a group of poisons called Novichok, which were developed by Russia. Mr Skripal is a former Russian spy and double agent. He served in the Soviet military, part of an elite airborne troop known as the Desantniki, and was among the first to enter Afghanistan during the invasion of 1979. Mrs May believes it was “highly likely” the Russian state was responsible for the attacks. And following Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, Mrs May again laid into Russia and expelled 23 diplomats in the largest mass expulsion of diplomats since the Cold War. She announced the suspension of high-level contacts with Russia, including a boycott of this summer’s World Cup by Government ministers and members of the royal family.
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