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Football enthusiasts on the website "Change.org" announced a petition to the International Football Federation (FIFA) to immediately strip Russia of the right to host the 2018 World Cup. You can find the petition here. The author of the petition, Zach Lewis from New York, claims in the statement that he is a huge football fan and cannot peacefully watch how the honor of organizing the biggest football event is given to such an unethical country: "Football unites the world and can widely spread the idea of equality and peace - anyone can play football at any time. Football was even nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize! Therefore, allowing Russia to host the most important football event in the world is simply absurd." The initiator of the petition urges FIFA to change the host of the 2018 World Cup as soon as possible: "Russia does not act as a 'team player' when it comes to human rights worldwide and in their own country. Despite all the world's criticism, they managed to occupy Ukrainian territory during the Sochi Olympics. Now, when Russian troops entered Crimea, FIFA and its president, Sepp Blatter, remain silent." The petition also reminds that Russia blatantly violates the rights of homosexuals and 21 journalists were killed in the country for doing their job professionally. "Is Russia really the most suitable country to host the World Cup? This event should be a celebration of diversity and equality. Black or white, homosexual or heterosexual - no matter how you identify yourself, you should not be condemned in sports that unite the world," - urges the New Yorker to contribute to the petition.
