UK politicians believe Putin will use World Cup like Hitler used Olympics

British Labour MP Ian Austin asserted Wednesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin will use the 2018 FIFA World Cup for his own personal gain, "the way (Adolf) Hitler used the 1936 Olympics."

Speaking at the U.K. Parliament's foreign affairs committee, Austin went on to state that England ought to reconsider its participation in the summer affair.

"I frankly do not think England should be participating in the World Cup," Austin said, according to the Guardian. "I don't think we should be supporting Putin using this as a PR exercise to gloss over the gross human rights abuses for which he's responsible."

British foreign secretary Boris Johnson agreed with some of Austin's views on the World Cup, stating: "I think that your characterisation of what is going to happen in Moscow, the World Cup, in all the venues - yes, I think the comparison with 1936 is certainly right. I think it's an emetic prospect, frankly, to think of Putin glorying in this sporting event."

However, Johnson disagreed with the idea of the Three Lions boycotting the event, offering, as quoted by Sky Sports, "On balance, it would be incredibly unfair to punish the (England) team."

Austin also believes England fans will be at risk of violence in Russia. The fear comes as a result of the British embassy official in Moscow, who was in charge of fan safety during the World Cup, being expelled from the country.

To that end, Johnson said there is no active inclination to dissuade fans from attending the World Cup, though he remarked: "You can't imagine anything more counter-productive to the U.K.'s ability to help fans in Russia, so there is an issue - there is a discussion."

He added: "My challenge to the Russian authorities is to show that the 24,000 U.K. applicants for tickets to the football World Cup are going to be well treated, are going to be safe."