Russia to invite Blatter, Platini to 2018 World Cup

MOSCOW

Russia’s sports minister Vitaly Mutko said on Tuesday that Russia will invite suspended FIFA President Sepp Blatter and UEFA's suspended chief Michel Platini to the 2018 World Cup which will be hosted by Russia.

Both have been banned from football activities for eight years.

Mutko told Russian press that he did not see any issue with inviting the suspended presidents to the 2017 Confederations Cup and the 2018 World Cup which will be hosted by Russia.

During a press conference last December, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Blatter was a respected person who should be given a Nobel Peace Prize.

FIFA’s ethics committee banned its own president and European football chief Michel Platini for eight years from all football-related activities in late December.

Proceedings against the two men were primarily related to a payment of two million Swiss francs (around $2 million) transferred in Feb. 2011 from FIFA to Platini.

MOSCOW

Both have been banned from football activities for eight years.

Mutko told Russian press that he did not see any issue with inviting the suspended presidents to the 2017 Confederations Cup and the 2018 World Cup which will be hosted by Russia.

During a press conference last December, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Blatter was a respected person who should be given a Nobel Peace Prize.

FIFA’s ethics committee banned its own president and European football chief Michel Platini for eight years from all football-related activities in late December.

Proceedings against the two men were primarily related to a payment of two million Swiss francs (around $2 million) transferred in Feb. 2011 from FIFA to Platini.