Ukraine crisis: Sporting sanctions can land significant blow on Putin, say experts

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Russia hosting the 2018 World Cup, the scandal-plagued 2014 Winter Olympics and Gazprom's sponsorship of European football's Champions League were powerful tools for the country's global image and gained Vladimir Putin prestige amongst the Russian population. However, the Russian president's decision to invade Ukraine has resulted in destroying the warm global afterglow and experts believe it could cost him dearly internally.

Football’s governing body Fifa said on Sunday that no international soccer matches will be played in Russia and the Russian flag and anthem will be banned from the team’s matches abroad.

Putin may not care what the rest of the world thinks of him, but he has to care what the Russian people think of him," said the Irishman. "Lose their support and it is game over - and the actions of the sports community has the potential to be a very important influencer towards the Russian people

"You are making the assumption that Russian people actually see, read, and hear 'real news'," ..."I do not believe that is the case. The Government will portray Russia as a victim of a great global conspiracy led by the USA and the West."It is an old Russian trope they have used quite effectively since the Soviet days.

Many people, like me, believed that by helping them host the Olympics and World Cup could somehow open and liberalise the society, creating new paths of progress for Russia's young people. "Again, we were wrong.