Russia Deputy PM Vitaly Mutko Stepping Down From Role As RFU Head

Russia Deputy PM Vitaly Mutko, who was banned for life from the Olympics this month, is "temporarily stepping down from his role" as head of the Russian Football Union, he said on Monday, according to Brian Homewood of REUTERS. Mutko appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport on Tuesday against the decision by the IOC to "ban him from the Games over allegations of state-sponsored doping." Mutko said, "For the period of the proceedings, I will suspend my work at the Russian Football Union for six months." FIFA, in a statement, said, "FIFA understands Mr Mutko’s decision which was also taken in the best interest of the World Cup next summer. FIFA thanks Mr. Mutko for this responsible step and for the work carried out so far for the World Cup." FIFA added that Mutko's decision "will have no impact on the successful staging of the World Cup next summer, as FIFA, the Russian Government, RFU and the LOC continue their fruitful cooperation on the preparations for the World Cup according to plan" (REUTERS, 12/25).