Sepp Blatter deserves Nobel Prize for FIFA work, Russia's Vladimir Putin says
By Jethro Mullen, CNN
Updated 1139 GMT (1839 HKT) July 28, 2015
Russia 2018: The countdown begins 14 photos
Zenit's new stadium is still under construction. With a capacity of nearly 67,000 people, it's one of 12 stadiums hosting games at the 2018 tournament. The opening and final match will be staged at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium.
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Russia 2018: The countdown begins 14 photos
The Otkrytie Arena is Spartak Moscow's recently opened new home.
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Russia 2018: The countdown begins 14 photos
A new, state-of-the-art, 40,000-capacity stadium is being built in Saransk in central Russia.
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Russia 2018: The countdown begins 14 photos
Sochi, which hosted the 2014 Winter Olympics, will also stage games at the 2018 World Cup.
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Russia 2018: The countdown begins 14 photos
Qualifying games for the 2018 World Cup started ahead of the preliminary draw in confederations such as CONCACAF and Asia, with Bhutan pictured here in action against China.
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Russia 2018: The countdown begins 14 photos
Germany is the World Cup holder. Here goalkeeper Manuel Neuer lifts the trophy after his team defeated Argentina 1-0 in extra time in the 2014 final in Brazil.
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Russia 2018: The countdown begins 14 photos
Bored of football? You can always visit St. Petersburg's Faberge Museum ...
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Russia 2018: The countdown begins 14 photos
Russian president Vladimir Putin and FIFA president Sepp Blatter open proceedings at the preliminary draw for the 2018 World Cup.
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Russia 2018: The countdown begins 14 photos
Singer Polina Gagarina and conductor Valery Gergiev perform at the ceremony to mark the preliminary draw for the 2018 World Cup.
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Russia 2018: The countdown begins 14 photos
FIFA official Christian Unger plays his part in Saturday's draw.
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Russia 2018: The countdown begins 14 photos
Putin and Blatter (back right) have forged a close relationship. The Swiss has led FIFA since 1998 but decided to stand down on June 2 as football's world governing body battled two corruption scandals.
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Russia 2018: The countdown begins 14 photos
Visiting FIFA officials have been made to feel welcome at the Konstantin Palace.
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Russia 2018: The countdown begins 14 photos
Russia has had to face more questions over its record in stamping out racism after Ghanaian footballer Emmanuel Frimpong claimed he was subjected to monkey chants from Spartak Moscow fans during the opening of the Russian Premier League season.
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Russia 2018: The countdown begins 14 photos
Zenit St. Petersburg's Brazilian striker Hulk has recently said racism happens at "almost every game" in the Russian league. Hulk had been named in the team of draw assistants for Saturday's event, which also included the likes of Brazilian great Ronaldo, Uruguay's Diego Forlan, Fabio Cannavaro of Italy and Cameroon's Samuel Eto'o, but FIFA said Friday due to his club commitments the Zenit star had been replaced by former Russia captain Alexey Smertin.
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Russia 2018: The countdown begins 14 photos
Zenit's new stadium is still under construction. With a capacity of nearly 67,000 people, it's one of 12 stadiums hosting games at the 2018 tournament. The opening and final match will be staged at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium.
Hide Caption
8 of 14
Russia 2018: The countdown begins 14 photos
The Otkrytie Arena is Spartak Moscow's recently opened new home.
Hide Caption
9 of 14
Russia 2018: The countdown begins 14 photos
A new, state-of-the-art, 40,000-capacity stadium is being built in Saransk in central Russia.
Hide Caption
10 of 14
Russia 2018: The countdown begins 14 photos
Sochi, which hosted the 2014 Winter Olympics, will also stage games at the 2018 World Cup.
Hide Caption
11 of 14
Russia 2018: The countdown begins 14 photos
Qualifying games for the 2018 World Cup started ahead of the preliminary draw in confederations such as CONCACAF and Asia, with Bhutan pictured here in action against China.
Hide Caption
12 of 14
Russia 2018: The countdown begins 14 photos
Germany is the World Cup holder. Here goalkeeper Manuel Neuer lifts the trophy after his team defeated Argentina 1-0 in extra time in the 2014 final in Brazil.
Hide Caption
13 of 14
Russia 2018: The countdown begins 14 photos
Bored of football? You can always visit St. Petersburg's Faberge Museum ...
Hide Caption
14 of 14
Russia 2018: The countdown begins 14 photos
Russian president Vladimir Putin and FIFA president Sepp Blatter open proceedings at the preliminary draw for the 2018 World Cup.
Hide Caption
1 of 14
Russia 2018: The countdown begins 14 photos
Singer Polina Gagarina and conductor Valery Gergiev perform at the ceremony to mark the preliminary draw for the 2018 World Cup.
Hide Caption
2 of 14
Russia 2018: The countdown begins 14 photos
FIFA official Christian Unger plays his part in Saturday's draw.
Hide Caption
3 of 14
Russia 2018: The countdown begins 14 photos
Putin and Blatter (back right) have forged a close relationship. The Swiss has led FIFA since 1998 but decided to stand down on June 2 as football's world governing body battled two corruption scandals.
Hide Caption
4 of 14
Russia 2018: The countdown begins 14 photos
Visiting FIFA officials have been made to feel welcome at the Konstantin Palace.
Hide Caption
5 of 14
Russia 2018: The countdown begins 14 photos
Russia has had to face more questions over its record in stamping out racism after Ghanaian footballer Emmanuel Frimpong claimed he was subjected to monkey chants from Spartak Moscow fans during the opening of the Russian Premier League season.
Hide Caption
6 of 14
Russia 2018: The countdown begins 14 photos
Zenit St. Petersburg's Brazilian striker Hulk has recently said racism happens at "almost every game" in the Russian league. Hulk had been named in the team of draw assistants for Saturday's event, which also included the likes of Brazilian great Ronaldo, Uruguay's Diego Forlan, Fabio Cannavaro of Italy and Cameroon's Samuel Eto'o, but FIFA said Friday due to his club commitments the Zenit star had been replaced by former Russia captain Alexey Smertin.
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Story highlights
Putin: Blatter and other leaders of international sports bodies "deserve special attention"
He tells a Swiss broadcaster that he doesn't believe Blatter was involved in corruption
The Russian leader questions why the U.S. is investigating FIFA officials
(CNN)Embattled FIFA President Sepp Blatter deserves a Nobel Prize for his work leading world soccer's governing body, according to Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
Russia's President made the comments in an interview with Swiss broadcaster RTS that was released Monday, two days after he and Blatter had gathered on stage in St. Petersburg for the preliminary draw for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
"I believe that people like Mr. Blatter, the heads of major international sports federations, deserve special attention and gratitude from public organizations," Putin said. "If anyone should be awarded Nobel Prizes, it is these people."
FIFA corruption scandal timeline27 photos
EXPAND GALLERY
Putin didn't specify which of the Nobel Prizes he was talking about. But the Russian leader's glowing words may raise a few eyebrows in light of the large corruption scandal currently engulfing FIFA, which Blatter has headed for the past 17 years.
Putin: I don't believe Blatter was involved in corruption
Blatter, who has denied any wrongdoing, announced last month that he would step down from the top job. An election for his replacement is due to take place in February.
Over his career, Blatter has accumulated a dizzying array of awards. The FIFA website lists more than 70 honors from around the globe that he has received, from the French Legion of Honor to the Golden Pin of the Football Association of Serbia.
Putin has defended Blatter previously, and he kept up his support in his comments to the Swiss broadcaster.
"We all know the situation that has developed around Mr. Blatter," he said. "I would not like to go into detail, though I do not believe a single word about corruption regarding him personally."
The pressure on FIFA includes separate corruption investigations by authorities in the United States and Switzerland. The Swiss inquiry is focused on the bidding to host the 2018 and 2022World Cups.
Questioning U.S. role in FIFA investigations
In the interview aired Monday, Putin renewed his criticism of U.S. authorities' efforts to pursue FIFA officials around the globe.
"The way the fight against corruption is playing out causes me to wonder whether this is a continuation of the battle for 2018 and 2022," he said.
He noted that the United States was a candidate to host the 2022 World Cup, which ended up going to the Middle Eastern nation of Qatar, and that the United Kingdom, a close American ally, lost out to Russia for the 2018 tournament.
Putin's words of support for Blatter don't tally with recent criticism from some of FIFA's major sponsors, though.
"We believe no meaningful reform can be made under FIFA's existing leadership," Visa CEO Charlie Scharf said last week.
CNN's John Sinnott contributed to this report.
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