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After sweating their way through the longest World Cup qualification route in their history, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has raised the prospect of Australia not attending June’s tournament.
The federal government is expelling two Russian spies after a poisoning episode in the United Kingdom earlier this month.
In response to questioning on Tuesday, Bishop said a further escalation of diplomatic action was possible.
“There are a whole range of options of further actions that could be taken. The World Cup is one of the further actions,” she said.
But in sweet relief for Socceroos fans, the prospect of the team not attending the tournament is still a remote possibility.
What’s more likely is that the Australian government joins the UK in a “state boycott” of the event, where no political leaders travel to Russia.
British Prime Minister Theresa May has announced no ministers or royal family members will attend official events, including the opening ceremony, at the tournament.
Iceland, which will compete for the first time at the global showpiece after its surprise qualification, has followed suit.
A report from London newspaper The Sun suggests Australia is one of a number of countries that are likely to join this action.
Clarification on Bishop’s comments is being sought from the foreign minister’s office and Football Federation Australia.
Ange Postecoglou’s side needed 22 matches in 12 different countries to finally seal a place in Russia.
Now under Bert van Marwijk’s tenure, the Socceroos are in action on Wednesday morning (AEDT) in a friendly match against Colombia in London.
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