Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the US could be selfishly motivated for its own gain, as was the case with Edward Snowden and Julian Assange.
“Unfortunately our American partners are using these methods in order to achieve their own selfish gains and it is illegal to persecute people. I would not rule out that in regards to FIFA, the same thing could be happening, though I do not know how it will end,” he said.
“However, the fact that this is happening right on the eve of the FIFA presidential elections, gives one this exact impression.”
Putin added this is an obvious attempt to expand Washington’s jurisdiction in other countries.
“This is yet one more attempt to try and impose the law against other states. I am absolutely sure that this is an attempt to try and stop Blatter from being re-elected as FIFA president, which is a grave breach of the principles of a functioning international organization.”
He also said pressure had been applied on Blatter "to force him to take the 2018 World Cup from Russia."
Russia won the rights to stage the 2018 World Cup under Blatter’s auspices. That 2010 decision, along with the award to Qatar of the 2022 tournament, is the subject of a Swiss criminal investigation running parallel to the US action.
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