Russian president believes FIFA president Sepp Blatter is worthy of the Nobel Prize
After the corruption scandal that rocked FIFA, the organisation that runs world footabll , there were calls in every corner of the world for the FIFA president Sepp Blatter to resign.
FIFA was disgraced after the scandal. Blatter became a laughingstock and a symbol of rampant corruption within the soccer world for years before the FBI-led raid that shook FIFA to its core.
Blatter was blamed for allowing rampant corruption to reign with some of his officials soliciting and accepting bribes under his watch.
But after the storm has passed, a new call has emerged saying that Blatter is worthy of a Nobel Prize.
“We all know the situation developing around Mr. Blatter right now,” Putin said. “I don’t want to go into details, but I don’t believe a word about him being involved in corruption personally … I think people like Mr. Blatter or the heads of big international sporting federations, or the Olympic Games, deserve special recognition. If there is anyone who deserves the Nobel Prize, it’s those people.”
Putin also said he doesn’t believe Blatter is personally guilty of corruption despite a widespread corruption scandal engulfing FIFA.
Sepp Blatter will make his first official trip since announcing his resignation as FIFA president on Thursday.
Blatter is expected to fly into Russia ahead of Saturday’s qualifying draw for the 2018 World Cup after admitting previously he did not want to travel with an ongoing investigation into corruption.
Blatter, 79, has not left Switzerland since the FIFA scandal broke two months ago but will be at the draw along with Russian president Vladimir Putin.
The interview comes just days after Blatter and Putin together at the preliminary draw for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in St. Petersburg. Blatter shared a picture of the two friends on his Twitter account.
Russia is set to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup, though Swiss authorities are currently investigating into the bid process for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments. Blatter was elected for a fifth term as FIFA president in May but announced his intention to resign just days later.
