IV 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 926 

Condemning Russian transgressions against international law and FIFA 

values during the 2018 World Cup in Russia. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 6, 2018 

Ms. KAPTUR (for herself, Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN, Mr. POE of Texas, Mr. PERRY, 

Mr. SIRES, Mrs. DINGELL, Mr. CONNOLLY, Mr. BURGESS, Mr. ENGEL, 

Mr. COOK, Mr. CICILLINE, Mr. GUTIE ́RREZ, Mr. FITZPATRICK, Mr. HARRIS, and Mr. MCCAUL) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Condemning Russian transgressions against international law 

and FIFA values during the 2018 World Cup in Russia. 

Whereas the Fe ́de ́ration Internationale de Football Association (FIFA)’s mission statement reads, ‘‘the world is a 

place rich in natural beauty and cultural diversity, but 

also one where many are still deprived of their basic 

rights. FIFA now has an even greater responsibility to 

reach out and touch the world, using football as a symbol 

of hope and integration’’; 

Whereas Article 3 of FIFA’s statutes states, ‘‘FIFA is committed to respecting all internationally recognized human 

rights and shall strive to promote the protection of these 

rights’’; 


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•HRES 926 IH 

Whereas Article 4 of FIFA’s statutes states, ‘‘discrimination 

of any kind against a country, private person or group 

of people on account of race, skin color, ethnic, national 

or social origin, gender, disability, language, religion, political opinion . . . is strictly prohibited and punishable 

by suspension or expulsion’’; 

Whereas FIFA awarded the Russian Federation hosting 

rights of the 2018 World Cup on December 2, 2010; 

Whereas the Russian government consistently intimidates and 

jails protestors and civil society in contravention of the 

Helsinki Charter; 

Whereas Russia increasingly seeks to dominate its neighbors, 

such as Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova, and undermine 

the rules-based international order through military action; 

Whereas Russia has a deeply troubling human rights record, 

and has targeted human rights defenders including those 

active in protecting the environment, participating in 

democratic movements, calling out corruption, and others 

seeking to practice their rights; 

Whereas human rights activists have documented labor 

abuses at construction sites related to the 2018 World 

Cup, including withholding or long delays in payment of 

wages, flawed or missing labor contracts necessary for 

legal employment, dangerous working conditions, and an 

environment of intimidation; 

Whereas Russia’s actions violate international norms, FIFA’s 

values, and the spirit of the game of soccer; 

Whereas FIFA invests upwards $627 million allocated for 

‘‘local organization’’, and the windfall from millions of 


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•HRES 926 IH 

tourists to Russia will boost the Russian economy, potentially freeing up money for further military aggression; 

Whereas the World Cup has a viewership of 3.2 billion people 

and would provide Russia one of the largest international 

platforms to spread its disinformation; 

Whereas the World Cup raises Russia’s prestige on the world 

stage, despite its malign and revanchist behavior, human 

rights abuses, and expansionist objectives; 

Whereas a dark cloud hangs over the selection of Russia as 

World Cup host, as allegations of bribery and corruption 

have been leveled against the Russian bid committee, including investigations in the United States, Switzerland, 

and France; 

Whereas Russia was expelled from the 2018 Olympics, due 

to unprecedented levels of doping and cheating; 

Whereas Russia uses its networks of patronage and corruption to undermine democratic institutions and alliances 

that are critical to the rules-based order; 

Whereas Russian aggression and the continued illegal occupation of regions of Ukraine has caused more than 10,000 

deaths, displaced 1.6 million Ukrainians, and 

marginalized the native Tatar population of Crimea; 

Whereas FIFA has a history of sanctioning a country for destabilizing behavior, such as banning the former Yugoslavia from the 1994 World Cup and the 1992 European 

Championship; and 

Whereas the United States and the international community 

must continue to hold Russia to account, punish Russian 

contravention of international law, and take action to 

deter future destabilizing actions: Now, therefore, be it 


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•HRES 926 IH 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) condemns Russia’s continued destabilizing 

3 behavior in Ukraine and the region; and 

4 (2) calls on the Fe ́de ́ration Internationale de 

5 Football Association (FIFA) and its associated 

6 international community to— 

7 (A) continue investigations into illicit Rus8 sian efforts to secure the World Cup; 

9 (B) condemn Russia’s transgressions 

10 against international law and FIFA values; 

11 (C) publically detail the FIFA processes 

12 and procedures to ensure that all World Cup 

13 athletes, particularly including those of the 

14 Russian Federation, are not using illegal per15 formance-enhancing drugs; 

16 (D) provide a public, detailed explanation 

17 of why FIFA continues to plan to hold the 

18 World Cup in Russia given its continued status 

19 as an internationally sanctioned country due to 

20 its ongoing aggression against Ukraine, includ21 ing its illegal occupation of Crimea; 

22 (E) ensure that future bidding processes 

23 occur in a fully transparent manner and in line 

24 with international and FIFA values; and 


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•HRES 926 IH 

1 (F) reaffirm its commitment to the FIFA 

2 charter, particularly including Article 3 and Ar3 ticle 4. 

Æ 


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