There were accusations ahead of the World Cup that the Kremlin would exploit the event for propaganda purposes. But while the scenes of happy crowds and smiling police officers have undoubtedly been a soft-power success so far for Russia, President Vladimir Putin’s approval ratings have actually fallen during the tournament, according to VTsIOM, the state-run pollster. The reason? The government’s announcement that Russia would increase the national retirement age from 60 to 65 for men and 55 to 63 for women. It’s one of the most unpopular policies of Putin’s long rule, and even an apparent attempt to bury the announcement during the World Cup opening ceremony has failed to dilute public anger. Don’t expect any public protests in Moscow, though. The government has effectively banned demonstrations in World Cup host cities until July 25.
Besides their goal-scoring feats, Russia have also run farther than any other side at the World Cup, clocking 118 kilometers against the Saudis and 112 kilometers against Egypt, according to stats. The side also had three players in the Top 10 for distance covered during the first round of matches, with Alexander Golovin, Russia’s skillful midfielder, in first place. After allegations of a Kremlin-sponsored doping program at the Sochi Winter Olympics, which also saw stunning improvements by Team Russia, it’s no surprise that some critics have suggested the side’s World Cup achievements might likewise be down to steroids. Russian football figures have dismissed the claims. Stanislav Cherchesov, the Russian manager, has refused to take questions on the topic, while the team’s doctor, Eduard Bezuglov, has said Russian players have passed numerous doping tests. Not that the denials are likely to hush skeptics. Like the tireless Russian team, the issue seems set to run and run.
Marc Bennetts is a journalist and author of “Football Dynamo: Modern Russia and the People’s Game.” The views expressed in opinion pieces do not necessarily reflect the position of The Moscow Times.