Boris Johnson: There was 'never the slightest chance' of England boycotting the World Cup

The poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal was never going to cause England to boycott the World Cup, Boris Johnson has confirmed.

The Foreign Secretary said there was “never the slightest chance” of England withdrawing from the high profile competition in Russia, despite the controversy surrounding the nerve agent attack in Salisbury in March.

The British Government has said it is “highly likely” the Kremlin was behind the attack, an allegation which the Russian government has repeatedly denied.

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Writing in the Sun, Mr Johnson said: “It would have been unfair on the team – young athletes who have trained so hard for what is the summit of their careers.

“It would have been unfair on the fans – who simply want to enjoy the sport without the intrusion of politics.

“And above all, we in this country have no quarrel with Russia, or the Russian people.”

SLIDESHOW: The stadiums of the Russian World Cup (Click image below)

He added the UK’s dispute was with the current administration of the Kremlin, rather than Russians.

Mr Johnson also said the Government was preparing for every eventuality in Russia “including how to respond to the moment when Harry Kane lifts the Fifa World Cup trophy.

“(It) is what we diplomats call a nice problem to have,” he wrote.