Title: Condemning Russian transgressions against international law and FIFA values during the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
Condemns Russia's destabilizing behavior in Ukraine and the region.
Calls on the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and its associated international community to: (1) continue investigations into illicit Russian efforts to secure the World Cup, and (2) condemn Russia's transgressions against international law and FIFA values.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 926 Introduced in House (IH)]

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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. Gutierrez, 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 Federation 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'';
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 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
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) condemns Russia's continued destabilizing behavior in 
        Ukraine and the region; and
            (2) calls on the Federation Internationale de Football 
        Association (FIFA) and its associated international community 
        to--
                    (A) continue investigations into illicit Russian 
                efforts to secure the World Cup;
                    (B) condemn Russia's transgressions against 
                international law and FIFA values;
                    (C) publically detail the FIFA processes and 
                procedures to ensure that all World Cup athletes, 
                particularly including those of the Russian Federation, 
                are not using illegal performance-enhancing drugs;
                    (D) provide a public, detailed explanation of why 
                FIFA continues to plan to hold the World Cup in Russia 
                given its continued status as an internationally 
                sanctioned country due to its ongoing aggression 
                against Ukraine, including its illegal occupation of 
                Crimea;
                    (E) ensure that future bidding processes occur in a 
                fully transparent manner and in line with international 
                and FIFA values; and
                    (F) reaffirm its commitment to the FIFA charter, 
                particularly including Article 3 and Article 4.
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