Deputy PM Nick Clegg wants Russia to be stripped of 2018 World Cup

Deputy prime minister Nick Clegg has demanded that Russia be stripped of the 2018 World Cup in the wake of Malaysia Airlines flight 17 being shot down over Ukraine.

Football's world governing body FIFA recently ruled out calls for Russia to be boycotted, insisting that "isolation or confrontation are not the most effective ways to solve problems".

Clegg, however, believes that allowing the event to go ahead would make the international community's condemnation of Moscow's annexation of Crimea and support for rebels seem insincere.

"Vladimir Putin himself has to understand that he can't have his cake and eat it," Clegg told the Sunday Times.

"He can't constantly push the patience of the international community beyond breaking point, destabilise a neighbouring country, protect these armed separatists in the east of Ukraine and still have the privilege and honour of receiving all the accolades in 2018 for being the host nation of the World Cup.

"That's why I've come to the view that if he doesn't change course it's just not on, the idea that Russia will host the World Cup in 2018. You can't have the beautiful game marred by the ugly aggression of Russia on the Russian Ukrainian border."

Russia were rivalled for the 2018 World Cup with a bid from England, a joint bid from Belgium and Netherlands, and a joint bid from Portugal and Spain.