- Title: SOCCER-WORLD/BLATTER-PUTIN Blatter tells Putin FIFA supports World Cup in Russia
- Date: 25th July 2015
- Summary: ST PETERSBURG, RUSSIA (JULY 25, 2015) (RUSSIAN POOL) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN AND FIFA PRESIDENT SEPP BLATTER WALKING INTO ROOM, SHAKING HANDS, BEING SEATED PUTIN AND BLATTER SEATED, MEDIA PUTIN AND BLATTER SPEAKING MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING: "We see what is happening around football, (WAITS FOR TRANSLATION) but I know how you regard this (WAITS FOR TRANSLATION) and we are grateful that you are concentrating your time and attention primarily on sport." WIDE OF MEETING CLOSE OF BLATTER LISTENING TO PUTIN SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING: "I know that great preparation work is underway for the World Cup (WAITS FOR TRANSLATION). I am very happy to have a chance to tell you about what Russia is doing in preparation for the 2018 World Cup (WAITS FOR TRANSLATION) and to introduce our colleagues from the national federations with what and how we are doing to ensure this large scale international sporting event is held at a high level." PUTIN AND BLATTER AT MEETING (SOUNDBITE) (German) FIFA PRESIDENT, SEPP BLATTER, SAYING (ACCORDING TO OFFICIAL TRANSLATION): "I would like to inform you that the executive committee has recently adopted a new resolution in which FIFA assures the Russian Federation of its full support in carrying out the World Cup in Russia in 2018." RUSSIA'S SPORTS MINISTER VITALY MUTKO LISTENING PUTIN, BLATTER AND MUTKO AT MEETING CLOSE OF PUTIN SMILING AT END OF MEETING
- Embargoed: 9th August 2015 13:00
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- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA3G2TWC7FNJUH1319WP1SZPDOF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: FIFA has passed a resolution offering full support for holding the 2018 World Cup in Russia, the soccer governing body's President, Sepp Blatter, said on Saturday (July 25) at a meeting with Russia's President Vladimir Putin.
A major bribery scandal being investigated by U.S., Swiss and other law enforcement agencies has plunged FIFA into the worst crisis in its 111-year history and has cast a cloud over the forthcoming World Cups in Russia and Qatar, but Russian officials have dismissed any suggestion Russia could be stripped of the contest.
"I would like to inform you that the executive committee has recently adopted a new resolution in which FIFA assures the Russian Federation of its full support in carrying out the World Cup in Russia in 2018," Blatter, said at the meeting in St Petersburg ahead of the preliminary draw.
Blatter announced in June, weeks after the scandal first emerged, that he would quit as head of the body.
Putin alluded to the crisis at FIFA but his comments were relatively cautious compared with his previous staunch defence of Blatter and his organisation.
"We see what is happening around football, but I know how you regard this and we are grateful that you are concentrating your time and attention primarily on sport," Putin said.
In May, when the scandal broke, Putin harshly criticised the U.S. investigation into FIFA as meddling in matters that were outside its jurisdiction.
On Saturday Putin also pledged to host a World Cup where both domestic and foreign players and fans would feel at home.
"I am very happy to have a chance to tell you about what Russia is doing in preparation for the 2018 World Cup and to introduce our colleagues from the national federations with what and how we are doing to ensure this large scale international sporting event is held at a high level," said Putin.
An economic crisis in Russia has forced cut-backs in World Cup preparations, but Putin and FIFA officials have said this will not affect Russia's ability to host the championship. - Copyright Holder: POOL (CAN SELL)
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