FIRST WORD
I am the guest of the organizing committee, but they will make an arrangement to see the president if it were possible.”
Disgraced former FIFA President Sepp Blatter to reporters Wednesday in Russia talking about meeting President Vladimir Putin during the World Cup. Blatter, suspended from all soccer-related activity until 2021 after being forced out following allegations of widespread corruption and bribery, was in charge of FIFA when Russia was awarded hosting rights in 2010 and forged a friendship with Putin. Now 82, he has rarely traveled outside his native Switzerland since leaving his FIFA post. His ban from FIFA does not prevent him from attending games.