Fifa seeks answers from Moscow on gay law ahead of 2018 World Cup
Soccer's governing body joins International Olympic Committee in expressing concern about Russian stance on homosexuals
Fifa has asked the Russian authorities for "clarification and more details" about a new anti-gay law ahead of the 2018 World Cup in the country. It joins the International Olympic Committee in seeking answers from Moscow.
Legislation prohibiting "propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations among minors" has provoked an international furore since President Vladimir Putin signed off on it in June and sparked growing concern at the IOC leading to the Sochi Winter Games in February.
Russia has committed to provide all visitors and fans with a warm welcome and ensure their safety. Fifa trusts that the 2018 Fifa World Cup hosts will deliver on this promise
The two most influential organisations in world sports are both now asking Russia how the law would be enforced during their marquee events.
"Fifa has asked the Russian authorities for clarification and more details on this new law," soccer's governing body said.
"Russia has committed to provide all visitors and fans with a warm welcome and ensure their safety" during the month-long tournament, Fifa said, adding that "Fifa trusts that the 2018 Fifa World Cup hosts will deliver on this promise."
Fifa has a direct link to the Russian government, with sports minister Vitaly Mutko serving under Fifa president Sepp Blatter on the soccer body's 27-member executive board.
Mutko has said that Olympic athletes would have to respect the country's laws during the February 7-23 Winter Games, and that international reaction needed to "calm down".
Fifa noted that its statutes "foresee zero tolerance against discrimination".
Article 3 states: "Discrimination of any kind against a country, private person or group of people on account of ethnic origin, gender, language, religion, politics or any other reason is strictly prohibited and punishable by suspension or expulsion."
Russia was awarded World Cup hosting rights in December 2010, when Fifa's board chose it ahead of England and joint bids from Spain-Portugal and the Netherlands-Belgium. That same day in Zurich, Fifa awarded the 2022 World Cup to Qatar, where homosexual acts are illegal.
Blatter drew criticism soon after the World Cup votes when he suggested that gay soccer fans could "refrain from any sexual activities" while attending the World Cup in the Gulf nation.
In May, after Fifa member countries approved tougher sanctions for discrimination, Blatter was asked what gay fans and players could expect in Qatar, and said that he could not offer "a definite answer" at this stage.
The potential effect on the Sochi Olympics of Russia's attitude towards gay rights is playing out in campaigning for the six-man race to be elected IOC president in September
On Monday, candidate Wu Ching-kuo of Taiwan said "we are not joking" with Russia, and suggested future bidders should be judged more strictly on their human rights record and follow the Olympic charter.
Wu said the Olympic movement would be far tougher on the human rights record of bidding cities if he was elected.
"We will make it very clear from the very beginning if they don't follow [the Olympic charter] we have to remove the Games to other cities," Wu said. "This should become a basic qualification if you want to apply to host the Games."
The boxing association chief is running for the IOC leadership against Thomas Bach of Germany, Richard Carrion of Puerto Rico, Sergei Bubka of Ukraine, Denis Oswald of Switzerland and Ng Ser Miang of Singapore.
