Russia 2018 World Cup logo announced despite calls for boycott over anti-gay law

Despite calls for the competition to be removed from Russia due to the country’s anti-gay laws, the 2018 FIFA World Cup logo has been announced.

Gay groups in 2010 said they were “deeply concerned” by FIFA’s decision to award the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar respectively.

Several campaigns have called for the competition to be removed from Russia over an anti-gay law passed last year banning the “promotion of non-traditional sexual relations” to minors.

Despite this, plans to allow Russia to host appear to be going ahead, as FIFA, the international football governing body, announced the logo.

Russian cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station initially revealed the logo.

FIFA last August called on Russia to give “clarification and more details” about anti-gay laws introduced in June ahead of the 2018 World Cup.

Following multiple campaigns to have the 2022 World Cup removed from Qatar due to the country’s anti-gay laws, the competition may not take place there, over temperature concerns.

The international football governing body FIFA’s taskforce last year also announced its intention to put pressure on Qatar to relax its anti-gay legislation ahead of hosting the 2022 World Cup.

• Oct 11

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