FIFA: Pull the 2018 World Cup from Russia

Riga, Latvia--a 2018 World Cup host?

The first yellow card hasn't been pulled for the FIFA 2014 Soccer World Cup in Brazil, so now is the ideal time to yank the 2018 football championship from Russia as one of the punishments for Vladimir Putin's seizing of the Crimea.

Unlike the Winter Olympics, which were held at an isolated city, the '18 matches will take place from Kaliningrad on the Baltic to Yekaterinburg in the Urals. It will bring tourists--and of course money--to these cities, many of which aren't vacation hubs.

FIFA needs to award the World Cup to another nation. Or even better, several nations. A Poland-Baltic States-Ukraine 2018 World Cup would be ideal, in my opinion, and would send a message of support to the Russian people who don't support international thuggery.

Disclosure: Mrs. Marathon Pundit is a native of Latvia.

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