BRITAIN

BORIS JOHNSON, the British Foreign Secretary, has sparked fury in the Kremlin by comparing the Russian World Cup to be held this year with Adolf Hitler’s 1936 Olympics in Berlin.

Mr Johnson said the prospect of Vladimir Putin “glorying” in the tournament was nauseating.

Giving evidence to MPs on the Commons’ foreign affairs committee, he said he agreed with Labour MP Ian Austin, who likened the World Cup to Hitler’s use of the 1936 Olympics as a Nazi propaganda vehicle.

Mr Johnson said: “The comparison with 1936 is certainly right. It’s an emetic prospect to think of Putin glorying in this sporting event.”

But the Kremlin said the foreign secretary’s comments were “unacceptable” and “unworthy of a top European diplomat”.

Mr Johnson reiterated his concerns again that he was “deeply concerned” about how travelling England football fans would be treated in Russia.

He added that the Foreign Office was “very, very closely” monitoring the situation for supporters looking to attend the tournament, which begins in June.