8 May 2018
By James de Villiers , Business Insider SA

  • The Russian 2018 World Cup Directorate said similarities between its Mordovia Arena stadium and Johannesburg FNB stadium is “an accidental coincidence”.
  • Apart from having almost exactly the same shape, the Russian stadium’s mosaic-like cladding exterior looks eerily similar to the FNB stadium. 
  • The Russians said the design of the Mordovia Arena changed several times and is supposed to represent the sun. The FNB stadium represents a Calabash. 

The outward similarity of Russia’s Mordovia Arena stadium with Johannesburg’s FNB stadium is “no more than an accidental coincidence”, the Russian 2018 World Cup Directorate said on Tuesday afternoon.