Putin claims US seeks to derail Russia's 2018 World Cup plans

Friday, May 29th 2015 - 08:41 UTC

Full article 9 comments

The Russian president's comments came former UEFA president Lennart Johannsen backed calls for Russia to be stripped of the tournament

Russian president Vladimir Putin waded into the FIFA scandal by accusing the United States of interfering in FIFA affairs after the US Justice Department ordered Swiss police to arrest seven senior FIFA officials on Wednesday. They were among nine current and former FIFA officials indicted.

Putin suggested the US was seeking to derail Russia's 2018 World Cup plans. His comments came after former UEFA president Lennart Johannsen backed calls for Russia to be stripped of the tournament and said it should be handed to England.

Backing Blatter's re-election bid, Putin said: “Unfortunately our American partners are using these methods in order to achieve their own selfish gains and it is illegal to persecute people.

”I would not rule out that in regards to FIFA, the same thing could be happening, though I do not know how it will end,” he said according to Russia Today.

“The fact that this is happening right on the eve of the FIFA presidential elections, gives one this exact impression” underlined Putin.

Categories: Politics, International, Entertainment.

Tags: 2018 Russia FIFA WC, FIFA, Fifa corruption, FIFA election, Russia, Sepp Blatter, Vladimir Putin.

Top Comments

Disclaimer & comment rules

Skip
Yes, yes, it wasn't the millions in bribes.... it is all just to embarrass Russia.

The persecution complex runs deep in some countries.
May 29th, 2015 - 10:07 am 0
Conqueror
Putin is KGB. We know what that means. Anything is okay. Aiding dictators. Aiding terrorists. Shooting down airliners. Lying. Cheating. Stealing. Why are Russian troop deaths suddenly a state secret? Because they died in Ukraine. Russia has always been 'persecuted'. Is it because it's a paranoid state?
May 29th, 2015 - 12:24 pm 0
Voice
Who cares what Putin says...
Russia have never fought a global war all they have done is defend themselves...
So what...they have Nukes....
A wee man in a small room with a big cannon...to use it means self annihilation....
The USA could take Russia on it's own even without Nato...

So why does the world listen...to this Meerkat lookalike....STFU.....when they find evidence of the Russian bribes.....it was all a US/CIA setup.......yeah we get it....
May 29th, 2015 - 01:29 pm 0

Read all comments

Commenting for this story is now closed.
If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page!