Russia accuses West of planning to torpedo 2018 World Cup

Moscow, March 23:Moscow accused the West on Thursday of preparing a major campaign with the aim of preventing Russia hosting the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warned that an active campaign will be launched shortly by the West, reports Efe.

She explained that western countries are going to take serious steps to hinder the preparations for hosting the event with the aim of torpedoing it.

The Swiss prosecutor's office is currently investigating the process of awarding the organisation of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar.

In May 2015, the first arrests of FIFA executives were made after accusations of corruption in Zurich, while the trials of this case are scheduled to be held in September or October.

These arrests were made through joint cooperation between the FBI and Swiss justice.