by Sun Langchen

A Tory MP has suggested that football teams should boycott the upcoming World Cup in North America from 11th June to 19th July in response to US President Donald Trump’s actions over Greenland. Though the likelihood of such a proposal being approved remains low, it serves as a form of ‘soft resistance’ against American bullying, using the politicisation of sports as a means of expression.

The remarks were made by the Conservative MP Simon Hoare during a debate on Arctic security on Monday, accusing Trump of disrespecting his allies and suggesting the UK respond in kind.

“Should the state visit [by King Charles to the USA] go ahead this year? Should football teams play in American stadia for the World Cup? These are things which would embarrass the president at home. We now need to fight fire with fire,” he said.

Liberal Democrat MP Luke Taylor echoed those sentiments. “I want to agree with the honourable member for North Dorset (Hoare) and ask the government if they will consider removing the king’s visit to the United States and also a boycott of the World Cup to show Donald Trump that the only thing he responds to is his own pride,” he said.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper responded to such suggestions by saying the UK would continue to pursue diplomacy with the USA.

The suggestion came during a debate on Arctic security on Monday, after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said Donald Trump’s plan to impose tariffs on the UK and European allies until a deal is struck for the USA to take over Greenland was “com pletely wrong.

According to the Guardian, there is a growing sense of embarrassment among mid-level and senior officials within FIFA over the awarding of its peace prize to Trump, after the US president was handed the award at the World Cup draw in Washington in December by the FIFA president, Gianni Infantino.

It is understood that Infantino has been left to deal with the ‘political matters’ concerning Trump for the World Cup as others fear it may tarnish their reputations.

“Involving myself in the politics surrounding this World Cup is something I stay far away from. My job concerns football on the pitch and nothing else,” a FIFA source said.

Xinhua