Boniek: Russia should not host 2018 World Cup

Zbigniew Boniek (left), president of the Poland Football Federation, believes FIFA should remove the 2018 World Cup from Russia. (Czarek Sokolowski/AP)

WARSAW, Poland — Poland football federation president Zbigniew Boniek says FIFA should be able to take the 2018 World Cup away from Russia because of conflict in Ukraine.

Boniek calls it a "catastrophic mistake" having a World Cup host "waging an open war, that has invaded another country."

The former Poland star, who played at three World Cup tournaments, questions if he should attend the World Cup qualifying draw on July 25 in St. Petersburg.

Boniek says in an interview with a Polish newspaper that it was acceptable for FIFA to choose Russia in 2010.

Russia has since annexed the Crimea region and pro-Russian separatists have taken control of parts of eastern Ukraine.

Boniek says FIFA should be able to cancel its World Cup contract if a host country violates United Nations rules.

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