Sports and politics never mix well

AS THE international community grapples with how to deal with Moscow in the wake of the Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 tragedy earlier this month, it looks increasingly likely that the European Union will slap Russia with new and harsher economic sanctions soon.

But how much of an impact this will have is debatable, given Europe's heavy dependence on Russia both as a major trading market and a key energy source.

There has been growing pressure from top EU officials, specifically from Germany and the United Kingdom, to punish Russia where it would hurt more, by stripping the country of its right to host the next World Cup in four years' time.