England could withdraw from this summer’s World Cup in Russia if the Kremlin is proven to be behind a suspected assassination attempt of a former spy, Boris Johnson has suggested.
Sergei Skripal – a 66-year-old former agent who was granted refuge in Britain in 2010 following a ‘spy swap’ – and his daughter remain critically ill after they were found unconscious on a shopping centre bench in Salisbury on Sunday. Police are still trying to establish the ‘unknown substance’ which is believed to have harmed the pair.
Speaking on Tuesday, the Foreign Secretary described UK participation in the World Cup as “difficult to see”, if links to Russia are proven. Seeing as England are the only country to have qualified from the UK, early reports suggested Gareth Soutghgate’s men might have to boycott the tournament, which begins in June.
Despite this, it’s since been claimed by a source close to Johnson that he was actually referring to ‘officials and dignitaries’ as opposed to the English football team, although official confirmation of this is yet to be made.
Source close to Boris says he meant 'officials and dignitaries' (and potentially ministers) not going to World Cup, NOT 'our boys' in the England team. 'He was trying to show the range of hard and soft power available to show our international displeasure' https://t.co/OdykkdYRnC
— Paul Waugh (@paulwaugh) March 6, 2018
