FIFA lauds Russia for 2018 success as Putin passes ball to Qatari Emir (Guardian)

FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, yesterday thanked Russia’s president, Vladmir Putin, and his people for giving the world the ‘best World Cup ever’ and hoped that the next hosts, Qatar, would emulate the fantastic atmosphere created by the European nation. Speaking at the Kremlin, where Russia handed over the hosting baton to Qatar yesterday, Infantino said the hosts had justified FIFA’s insistence that they stage the 2018 edition of the competition despite stiff opposition, adding that the World Cup has changed many peoples’ perception of Russia. The handover means that the official countdown to 2022 edition has begun.At the ceremony, which also had Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani in attendance, Putin said: Read more