Fifa President Sepp Blatter claims 2018 World Cup in Russia can help bring bring peace to region

Blatter has warned that a World Cup boycott may not achieve anything. Credit: PA

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has delivered a warning against a boycott of the 2018 World Cup and insisted the world governing body had every right to move the 2022 tournament to the winter.

Ukraine's president has called for a boycott of the 2018 tournament in protest at Russian military involvement with pro-Moscow separatists.

Blatter responded by claiming the World Cup could actually help bring peace.

He told a news conference in Zurich: "What is 100 per cent is that the World Cup will take place in Russia in 2018, that's sure.

"A boycott of the World Cup or any sporting event has never brought any solutions to anybody.

"The European Parliamentary committee is asking for a boycott of the World Cup three or four months ago - it was a boycott of the World Cup in Qatar and now it is the World Cup in Russia.

"In my opinion the World Cup in Russia will be able to stabilise all that region in Europe."