Vladimir Putin and Sepp Blatter just can’t stop praising each other.
The Russian president, speaking with Swiss TV on Monday, said the embattled head of FIFA deserves a Nobel Prize for his work.
Two days after Putin and Blatter hosted the preliminary draw for the 2018 World Cup, Putin said “people like Blatter … deserve special recognition”.
Blatter had opened the draw ceremony Saturday – held at a palace in St Petersburg that is an official Putin residence – and warmly congratulated his host.
“Thank you, President Putin, you make us happy and comfortable,” said Blatter, who was making his first trip outside his native Switzerland since American and Swiss investigations of corruption in soccer were revealed in May.
Besides Blatter, Putin suggested to Swiss state broadcaster RTS that heads of international sports federations and Olympic committees would also be worthy recipients.
“Let’s have Nobel Prizes for people like that,” said Putin, who approved lavish spending on the 2014 Sochi Olympics that cost $US51 billion ($A70 billion) to prepare and stage.
On Saturday, Blatter told Putin that the Russian people “can be proud” of him and that FIFA says “yes to Russia, we are providing our support”.
Russia’s successful bid to host the World Cup is central to the Swiss federal investigation. That case also focuses on the 2022 bidding campaign, won by Qatar.
The American case has named three former FIFA vice presidents among 14 soccer and marketing officials indicted in May on widespread racketeering charges.
A further four men have made guilty pleas in the widening case that is also expected to target Blatter and the 2018-2022 World Cup bid contests.
BigAl
Guest
Why not ? - could be a good geo-political balancer for the one Al Gore won in 2007 !
144
Roar Guru
Blatter gets the nobel prize, says the one who would probably get a giant brown paper bag from this tournament anyway, this corporation has been corrupt for sometime and it's annoying. Michel Platini and Mong Joon i think his name is are now saying they will stand for fifa presidency.
Bondy
Guest
If every things overrated Bruce why do you need to come here and tell us such, dont we already know what you're going to post .
Slim
Guest
Putin has dickhead syndrome.
Pauly
Guest
Yes a Nobel Prize for cronyism and deceit would be very much deserved.
Mitcher
Guest
I genuinely abhor the actions of Blatter and Putin. How could we see it as anything such. But, it would do well for some to understand that many (by no means all) of their behaviours that offend us, might not be seen so in large swathes of the world. You don't have to like. But maybe just understand. If nothing else than 'no your enemy'. It can't hurt, right?
LordBrucie
Guest
The popularity of Vladimir Putin (and assoc.football) is over-rated by many in post-soviet Russia.
The artist formerly known as Punter
Guest
Another one!!!! Listen I don't agree or believe some of things Fuss says, he goes way over the top sometimes. I just ignore them when he goes OTT. However, I don't see what he wrote above was wrong. He wasn't backing Blatter I don't know or care about AFL, I don't go on the AFL tab to talk AFL. If you knew what Fuss was going to do, either don't open the article or ignore his posts. Simple.
Kaks
Roar Guru
How did i know you were going to write some tripe defending your pal Blatter as soon as I saw this article...
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Strawman argument = "despot is a term reserved for any leader who refuses to go along with the wishes of Western leaders"
The artist formerly known as Punter
Guest
You add nothing to any of the football threads but be Fuss's & Midfielder's shadow & pick fights. Go back to the AFL tab with all your irrelevant comments. Go back & defend your boo boys with your tall poppy crap.
AR
Guest
Ha - yes, contemplating the worthiness of Sepp Blatter for a Nobel Prize is exactly the sort of heady global issue I seek to be "invovled in". Delusional dreams indeed.
nordster
Guest
still with the autismo narrative? ;) its almost like we're not supposed to like him or somethin.... maybe western politicians should focus group his style....has better approval ratings at home than our slimeball pollies.... And he's clearly not trying that hard to be likeable!
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Egg Ball fans with the usual delusional dreams of getting involved with global issues. I suggest you stick to Straya issues - start collecting signatures for "Stop The Boos".
Mister Football
Roar Guru
That Blatter would win the Nobel Prize at the prompting of Putin would be an appropriate conclusion to Blatter's glittering career.
albatross
Roar Pro
The Second Captains suggested that the lack of lines and facial expression evinced by Putin during his TV interview suggested that Putin has actually been replaced by a poorly made android robotic device.
AR
Guest
Fuss is right - Sepp for the Nobel! (I'll start collecting signatures)
nordster
Guest
And fifa does promote non murderous expressions of nationalism.... Even if there are the occasional brown paper bags....i'll take that over the preferred bag of the statist....the body bags of someone else's children....
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Well, he's certainly done fewer bad & evil things in his life than previous Winners, including: European Union, Barack Obama, Shimon Peres, Yitzhak Rabin, Yasser Arafat, Menachem Begin, Anwar Sadat. For heaven's sake Henry Kissinger won the Prize in 1973. He's pure evil who should be taken to The Hague & face the International Criminal Court for Crimes against Humanity http://www.globalresearch.ca/crimes-against-humanity-why-is-henry-kissinger-walking-around-free/5358322
nordster
Guest
well to be fair obozo got one just for being elected haha.....nobel's remorse on that award i suspect! He was meant to be their golden boy and all...