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The government of South Africa has vehemently refuted and dismissed claims that it paid ten million dollars to former FIFA Vice President Jack warner to influence the awarding of the 2010 world cup in South Africa. Sports minister Fikile Mbalula says all funds were accounted for and audited. Meanwhile, Russian president Vladamir Putin has backed the embattled FIFA President Sepp Blatter and his administration, and accused the United States of meddling outside its jurisdiction in the arrests of top FIFA officials.