Putin slams FIFA probe, says US “persecuting people”
May 28, 2015, 11:52 am

File photo of FIFA chief Sepp Blatter (right) with Russian President Vladimir Putin [PPIO]

Putin has lashed out at what he termed at Washington’s “crude breach in the principles in the functioning of international organizations.” Switzerland, on Wednesday, launched a separate probe into the bidding for the 2018 and 2022 world tournaments, to be hosted by Russia and Qatar respectively.

“I don’t doubt a bit that this is a clear attempt to not allow the reelection of Mr. Blatter to the post of FIFA president, and this is a crude breach in the principles in the functioning of international organizations. Unfortunately, our American partners are using such methods to reach their own selfish goals and are doing it illegally, persecuting people,” Putin told journalists in Moscow.

“We know the pressure that was put on him to prevent the 2018 World Cup taking place in Russia,” the Russian President added comparing the events to the hounding of whistleblowers Edward Snowden and Julian Assange.

In a meeting with Putin in Sochi earlier last month, FIFA chief Sepp Blatter had slammed critics of Russia.

“I see that more and more people around the world are taking an interest in the 2018 World Cup in Russia. If politicians are not too happy that we are taking the world cup to Russia, I always say to them, “Well, you can stay home, and in Russia we will hold the biggest world cup ever yet,” said Blatter in Russia.

Putin, on Thursday, however, said the probe “does not concern” Russia.

“We can suppose that someone did something wrong, I don’t know, but it’s already clear that the United States doesn’t have anything to do with this. These officials aren’t citizens of the United States and if some sort of event occurred, then it didn’t occur in the United States, and the United States doesn’t have anything to do with this. This is yet another clear example of [the United States] spreading its jurisdiction on other countries,” Putin noted.

FIFA is at the center of an international corruption probe that resulted in the indictments on Wednesday of 14 people including its Vice Presidents.

Meanwhile, Brazil’s CBF issued a statement saying that it “wholly supports any and all investigation.”

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff also said the probe “will allow for greater professionalism in football”.

TBP and Agencies