Putin denounces anti-FIFA ‘smear campaign’

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin accused England on Wednesday of trying to snatch the right to host the 2018 football World Cup through a coordinated smear campaign against FIFA executives.

Announcing that he would stay away from Thursday’s crunch vote in Zurich to avoid putting pressure on the 22 member FIFA executive committee, Putin showered praise on the sport’s world governing body as it announces the 2018 and 2022 host sites.

Bookmarkers have made Russia the front-runner for the right the 2018 event ahead of England and joint bids by Spain and Portugal and Holland and Belgium.

And in a clear reference to the English submission, Putin said that recent allegations by the British media of corruption among FIFA’s executive committee were part of a concerted effort to tilt the playing field.

“I would like to note that recently we have watched with disappointment as an obvious campaign was being unleashed against members of the FIFA executive committee,” Putin said in nationally-televised remarks.

“They are being smeared in dirt and compromised. ... I interpret this as (a method of) unfair competition.

“We believe that such methods of competition are entirely unacceptable,” he added, without specifically naming any of Russia’s rivals.

Putin has spearheaded Russia’s campaign to host the event just as he had in case of the 2014 Winter Olympics, which were awarded against long odds to the Russian summer resort town of Sochi.

Football commentators here have said that Russia’s entire campaign rests on Putin’s charisma and diplomatic weight, but the prime minister said he would stay away from the northern Swiss city so as not to unduly influence the vote. But the Russian Prime Minister Putin vowed to finish Russia’s preparation on time and to consult closely with FIFA officials on progress. MOSCOW, AFP