Vladimir Putin has accused the United States of trying to wrest the 2018 World Cup away from Russia and given his backing to Sepp Blatter over the American-led fraud investigation that has plunged Fifa into turmoil.
Blatter, the president of world football’s governing body, today chaired a crisis meeting after the arrest yesterday of seven Fifa officials in Zurich, including two vice-presidents, on charges of receiving more than $150 million (about £100 million) in bribes.
An investigation has begun into how the 2018 and 2022 World Cups were awarded.
As Greg Dyke, the FA chairman, dismissed the suggestion that England would step in as emergency hosts of the 2018 World Cup if Russia is stripped of the tournament, Putin hit out over the FBI investigation