Nick Clegg has backed calls to strip Russia of the World Cup in 2018 but also feels that it should be refused the right to host any major sporting event.

The Deputy Prime Minister feels that there is no way the country can host the tournament or any other event despite Western claims of Russian responsibility for the shooting-down of the Malaysian plane over Ukraine still being unproven.

“Vladimir Putin himself has to understand that he can’t have his cake and eat it,” Clegg said.

“He can’t constantly, you know, push the patience of the international community beyond breaking point, destabilise a neighbouring country, protect these armed separatists in the east of Ukraine and still have the privilege and honour of receiving all the accolades in 2018 for being the host nation of the World Cup.

“That’s why I’ve come to the view that if he doesn’t change course it’s just not on, the idea that Russia will host the World Cup in 2018.

“You can’t have this — the beautiful game marred by the ugly aggression of Russia on the Russian-Ukrainian border.

“Not only would Vladimir Putin exploit it, I think it would make the rest of the world look so weak and so insincere about our protestations about Vladimir Putin’s behaviour if we’re not prepared to pull the plug.”

Clegg wants Fifa to think about those who lost family members in the tragedy while they think about allowing Russia to host such a prestigious tournament.

“The question marks I’m raising will only increase over the next coming weeks and months, over the summer and up to the grand prix, about Russia’s entitlement to host these major events.

“Vladimir Putin is a past master at attending these sporting events and, sort of, pretending almost as if everything’s utterly normal and nothing untoward is happening around him.

“And if anyone needed any reminding of how dangerous this conflict is in the heart of Europe, just ask any of the family and relatives of those loved ones they lost in that plane incident last week.”

But just moments later, the Lib Dem leader revealed his true colours by proposing none other than Great Britain as a replacement to host to 2018 World Cup.

“We’ve got the stadiums, we’ve got the infrastructure, and we’ve got the public backing and enthusiasm to host it,” he said.

“That’s a decision for other people. But I’m not saying this just as a, sort of, British land grab to snatch the World Cup from under Vladimir Putin’s nose.”