The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, right, and Fifa’s Sepp Blatter met in St Petersburg. Photograph: Maxim Shipenkov/AP
The eight-year suspensions handed to FIFA President Sepp Blatter and UEFA chief Michel Platini will have no effect on Russia staging the 2018 World Cup, Sports Minister and Organising Committee head Vitaly Mutko has claimed.
Blatter and Platini were given the bans by the FIFA Ethics Committee earlier this week for breaches surrounding a “disloyal payment” of CHF 2 million (£1.3 million/$2.1 million/€1.8 million) made by the Swiss to the Frenchman in February 2011, with the exact charges against the pair due to be announced at next year’s Extraordinary Elective Congress in Zurich on 26 February.
Ethics judges ruled that Blatter broke rules on conflicts of interest, breach of loyalty and offering gifts, while Platini breached regulations on conflict of interest and loyalty. The two football administrators have vowed to appeal the eight-year-ban claiming that they did no wrong.
Mutko’s comments come despite Blatter, who will step down from his role at next year’s Congress, claiming an agreement was in place to give Russia the 2018 World Cup before the vote took place.
Russia was successful in its bid after winning 13 votes in the second round, beating Portugal and Spain’s joint effort, which garnered seven votes.
The Netherlands and Belgium polled four votes in the first round, which saw England knocked out with just two.
Both the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bid processes are being investigated as part of a widespread probe into corruption within world football’s governing body.
“I think this will not affect us and preparations for the World Cup,” Mutko, a member of the FIFA Executive Committee, Insidegames.biz quoted Mutko to have said at an ITAR-TASS news conference.
“I see no problems here.
“We make regular reports on preparations and get approval.
“There are no reasons to …Read More
Source:: PM Newspaper
