Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that suspended FIFA President Sepp Blatter is "a very respected person" who deserves to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, according to REUTERS. Putin: "Whether there are signs of corruption in FIFA, the investigation must show. As for Joseph Blatter, he is a very respected person, he has done a lot for the development of world soccer. He has always tried to treat football not as a sport but as an element of cooperation between countries and peoples. He is the one who must be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize." Putin also targeted critics who allege that "corruption may have been behind" FIFA's decision to award Russia the right to host the World Cup in '18. Putin added, "We know firmly one thing -- that we received the right to host the World Cup in an absolutely honest and competitive fight. Not a single country has the right to spread its jurisdiction to other states, to say nothing of international organizations" (REUTERS, 12/17).
BLATTER MAKES APPEARANCE: REUTERS' John Miller reported Blatter appeared before FIFA's ethics committee on Thursday in a "case that could end with him banned from the sport for years." FIFA is "reeling from the worst corruption scandal in its more than 100-year history," with 41 people including national football bosses as well as entities charged by U.S. prosecutors and Blatter under criminal investigation in Switzerland. Blatter was suspended on Oct. 8 from all football-related activity for 90 days alongside UEFA President Michel Platini "pending a full investigation into their conduct." Earlier this week, Blatter wrote to FIFA's 209 member state associations, "on his own" stationery, "proclaiming his innocence" (REUTERS, 12/17).
