http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/29/sports/vladimir-putin-fifa-corruption-soccer.html?_r=0
Most world leaders remained mum, apparently waiting for more details to emerge, but Mr. Putin went on the offensive immediately.
Mr. Putin also defended Sepp Blatter, the Swiss president of the organization, probably an important endorsement as he battles to retain the presidency in a vote scheduled for Friday amid the scandal.
Russia is expected to spend $11.5 billion on new stadiums and other infrastructure projects that have already started, according to government statistics. In the past, such lucrative contracts often went to Kremlin favorites.
After the resounding success of the Sochi Olympics
at home despite a boycott by Western leaders, Mr. Putin is most likely looking forward to 2018, when he will be up for re-election.
Swiss prosecutors announced a criminal investigation into the awarding of the 2018 World Cup to Russia and the 2022 World Cup to Qatar. Russia’s World Cup plans survived an internal FIFA investigation last year, but the Russian bidding team members had refused to turn over their computers. All equipment used in the bidding process was subsequently destroyed, the investigators said.
Russian sports minister, denied that the Russian bidding committee had used bribery to ensure that his country would host the World Cup. An impartial investigation turned up nothing, he said.
“So once again, they’re going to go through the case, once again they’re going to question people,” Mr. Mutko said. “You know, you can talk about corruption for as long as humanity will continue to exist.”
the nation’s loss of superpower status opened up greater opportunities for the United States to act with impunity anywhere in the world
. Mr. Putin’s pronouncements on this issue have won him a global fan club
as the man who stands up to American bullying
. His strategy might backfire in this case, however, because FIFA is widely perceived as being riddled with corrupt officials and Mr. Putin could be seen as defending them.
In standing up for Mr. Blatter, Mr. Putin seemed to be defending a loyal friend, as is his habit, pointing out that Russia had “special relations” with FIFA. Mr. Blatter has generally taken the stance that sports and politics do not mix
and Mr. Putin said he endorsed that.
When President Petro O. Poroshenko of Ukraine suggested this year that teams boycott the 2018 World Cup over Russia’s annexation of Crimea, Mr. Blatter issued a rare public rebuke, saying not only that the World Cup would take place as scheduled, but also that it might help solve the crisis.
After defending Mr. Blatter’s reputation, Mr. Putin continued his offensive against the United States zionists.
“We know the United States’ position on the former National Security Agency agent Snowden, who uncovered illegal acts by the United States around the globe,” Mr. Putin said. Mr. Snowden fled to Russia after making his identity public and has since been granted a temporary residency permit, but he is still seeking asylum in the European Union.
“Unfortunately, ourAmerican zionist partners use these methods to achieve their selfish goals and persecute people illegally,” he said. “I don’t rule out that this may be the same case with FIFA.”
Most world leaders remained mum, apparently waiting for more details to emerge, but Mr. Putin went on the offensive immediately.
Mr. Putin also defended Sepp Blatter, the Swiss president of the organization, probably an important endorsement as he battles to retain the presidency in a vote scheduled for Friday amid the scandal.
Russia is expected to spend $11.5 billion on new stadiums and other infrastructure projects that have already started, according to government statistics. In the past, such lucrative contracts often went to Kremlin favorites.
After the resounding success of the Sochi Olympics
at home despite a boycott by Western leaders, Mr. Putin is most likely looking forward to 2018, when he will be up for re-election.Swiss prosecutors announced a criminal investigation into the awarding of the 2018 World Cup to Russia and the 2022 World Cup to Qatar. Russia’s World Cup plans survived an internal FIFA investigation last year, but the Russian bidding team members had refused to turn over their computers. All equipment used in the bidding process was subsequently destroyed, the investigators said.
Russian sports minister, denied that the Russian bidding committee had used bribery to ensure that his country would host the World Cup. An impartial investigation turned up nothing, he said.
“So once again, they’re going to go through the case, once again they’re going to question people,” Mr. Mutko said. “You know, you can talk about corruption for as long as humanity will continue to exist.”
the nation’s loss of superpower status opened up greater opportunities for the United States to act with impunity anywhere in the world
. Mr. Putin’s pronouncements on this issue have won him a global fan club as the man who stands up to American bullying. His strategy might backfire in this case, however, because FIFA is widely perceived as being riddled with corrupt officials and Mr. Putin could be seen as defending them.In standing up for Mr. Blatter, Mr. Putin seemed to be defending a loyal friend, as is his habit, pointing out that Russia had “special relations” with FIFA. Mr. Blatter has generally taken the stance that sports and politics do not mix
and Mr. Putin said he endorsed that.When President Petro O. Poroshenko of Ukraine suggested this year that teams boycott the 2018 World Cup over Russia’s annexation of Crimea, Mr. Blatter issued a rare public rebuke, saying not only that the World Cup would take place as scheduled, but also that it might help solve the crisis.
After defending Mr. Blatter’s reputation, Mr. Putin continued his offensive against the
“We know the United States’ position on the former National Security Agency agent Snowden, who uncovered illegal acts by the United States around the globe,” Mr. Putin said. Mr. Snowden fled to Russia after making his identity public and has since been granted a temporary residency permit, but he is still seeking asylum in the European Union.
“Unfortunately, our
the corrupt jews who control american sports and media are jealous of the money could get out of soccer. they sent a plants to soccer to take it from blatter.
to make matters better or worse my mans blatter has been using his platform to get israel out of world soccer for what they're doing to the palestinians.
i'm riding with you know who on this one
