MOSCOW, June 5 (Sputnik) - Former England striker Gary Lineker, who hosted the World Cup draw in Moscow in December, said that the United Kingdom had no right to doubt the legitimacy of Russia's hosting the 2018 FIFA World Cup this summer.
"Who are we to start getting judgmental on who should have the World Cup? We all know how corrupt our country is at times," Lineker was quoted as saying by the UK Radio Times weekly magazine on Monday.
Following accusations of corruption, FIFA investigated the legitimacy of Russia and Qatar's selection as the hosts for the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups and cleared both countries of wrongdoing in relation to the bids.
"It’ll be fine. It’ll be great. What governments do is another matter, but the people of Russia have actually been very welcoming," Lineker added.
The 2018 FIFA World Cup will take place between June 14 and July 15 at 12 stadiums in 11 Russian cities, Moscow, Kaliningrad, St. Petersburg, Volgograd, Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod, Samara, Saransk, Rostov-on-Don, Sochi and Yekaterinburg.
England will face Tunisia, Panama and Belgium in Group G.
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