London is trying to use the “poisoning” to destroy confidence in Russia before the 2018 World Cup

A spectator buys World Cup tickets online. Photo: Sputnik

The Russian foreign ministry said that it had "repeatedly warned that before the opening of the World Cup in Russia, the Western media would definitely launch a full-scale propaganda campaign aimed at discrediting Russia as the host country for organizing this major sporting event."

"As we expected, especially the British, who cannot forgive Russia for our country's honest and effective bid to host the 2018 World Cup, are especially keen," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

"The British media is calling for a boycott of the upcoming World Cup. These calls are coming not only from journalists but also from officials. The reason now is that Skipal was poisoned, and the investigation has not yet been completed, and in fact has not even begun," - the Foreign Ministry's statement noted.

However, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry, that fact still did not prevent British politicians from immediately drawing conclusions about Russia's involvement, and now sanctions, such as boycotting participation in the World Cup, will follow.

"We would like to emphasize once again: such provocative moves, spreading anti-Russian hysteria, only complicate relations between our countries and deal a blow to world sport," — the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

On March 12, British Prime Minister Theresa May announced that "there was likely Russian involvement" in the "poisoning" of former security colonel Skripal and his daughter Yulia with a mysterious nerve agent.

According to the British announcement, on March 4 in Salisbury, Skripal and his daughter were found unconscious due to the effects of a nerve agent originating from Russia.