FIFA insists Russia WC 2018 draw will not be rigged [Sport]

Russia World Cup 2018 Draw

FIFA has insisted the 2018 World Cup draw will not be rigged.

The move to reassure football fans follows last year’s claims by former FIFA president Sepp Blatter that hot and cold balls were used to fix some European level fixtures.

Dealing with hooligans is one of the great challenges that Russia faces during the World Cup next year.

As the country prepares to host the event, at least one Russian hooligan, a supporter of Spartak Moscow, was arrested in Bulgaria on Sunday after clashes between supporters during a CSKA Sofia match.

The Russians have a reputation of kicking people instead of kicking a football. Remember the headline-grabbing brawls in the southern French city of Marseille in June 2016 during the Euro 2016, when Russian and English fans clashed in what became the worst violence to hit international football since the 1998 World Cup that was also held in France.

World Rugby Sevens Series

The first round of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series is almost upon us as 16 teams get set to compete at Dubai and the road to Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018 begins in earnest.

Action kicks off today in the Dubai desert up to the final day on Sunday.

South Africa, Uganda and Kenya will be representing the continent. The Ugandans have been pooled alongside France, Australia and Samoa. Kenya have Canada, Scotland and the USA. The Blitz Boks of South Africa are in a tricky group alongside New Zealand, England and Wales.