FIFA Should Oust President for His Support of 'Putin Regime' - US Senators

© Sputnik / Alexei Druzhinin / Go to the mediabankRussian President Vladimir Putin (right) and FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter
Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) and FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter - Sputnik International
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The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) should prevent President Sepp Blatter from serving a fifth term because of his support for Russia hosting the World Cup in 2018, US Senators John McCain and Bob Menendez said in a press release, issued on Tuesday.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Blatter is running for a fifth term as president of the international governing football body, with the election scheduled to take place at the 65th FIFA Congress in Zurich on May 29, the release explained.

“We strongly encourage you to elect a [FIFA] president who will…work to deny the [Russian President Vladimir] Putin regime the privilege of hosting the 2018 World Cup.”

Hosting the World Cup would provide Russia, the senators claimed, with economic support that would violate US and EU sanctions imposed on Moscow for its alleged involvement in Ukraine’s crisis.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) and FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter - Sputnik International
Preparation for 2018 World Cup in Russia Flawless - FIFA President
On April 20, Blatter told Putin that politicians who are dissatisfied with Russia hosting the World Cup can stay home as Russia stages the biggest world championship in football.

The event could help foster global unity and regional stability, Blatter added.

The FIFA president said that holding the World Cup in Russia would help stabilize the tense situation in Ukraine and urged everyone not to mix military conflict with sport.

Russia's preparations for the forthcoming event were flawless, Blatter said.

On April 2, a FIFA spokesperson rejected a call by 13 US Senators to strip Russia of the honor of hosting the Cup. History has shown, the FIFA spokesperson explained, that boycotting sporting events and policies of isolation are not the most effective ways to solve problems.

The World Cup will be held from June 14 to July 15, 2018 at 12 stadiums in 11 Russian cities, including Moscow, Kazan, Sochi and St. Petersburg among other locations.

© Sputnik / Alexander Natruskin / Go to the mediabankVitaly Mutko, Russian Minister of Sport and President of the Russia 2018 Organizing Committee, speaks at a news conference at Rossiya Segodnya’s International Multimedia Center, Moscow, dedicated to the launch of the campaign on designing the official mascot of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
News conference on launching a design campaign for 2018 FIFA World Cup mascot - Sputnik International
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Vitaly Mutko, Russian Minister of Sport and President of the Russia 2018 Organizing Committee, speaks at a news conference at Rossiya Segodnya’s International Multimedia Center, Moscow, dedicated to the launch of the campaign on designing the official mascot of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
© RutubeMOSCOW - 2018 FIFA World Cup™ Host City
MOSCOW - 2018 FIFA World Cup™ Host City - Sputnik International
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MOSCOW - 2018 FIFA World Cup™ Host City
© REUTERS / Leonhard FoegerFIFA President Sepp Blatter delivers his speech during the opening session of the 39th Ordinary UEFA Congress in Vienna March 24, 2015. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger
FIFA President Sepp Blatter - Sputnik International
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FIFA President Sepp Blatter delivers his speech during the opening session of the 39th Ordinary UEFA Congress in Vienna March 24, 2015. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger
© Wikipedia / OlimorFIFA headquarters in Zürich, Switzerland.
FIFA headquarters - Sputnik International
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FIFA headquarters in Zürich, Switzerland.
© Sputnik / Alexey NikolskyRussia's President Vladimir Putin (R) and FIFA President Joseph Blatter during the 2014/2018 FIFA World Cup handover ceremony. July 13, 2014.
Russia's President Vladimir Putin (R) and FIFA President Joseph Blatter - Sputnik International
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Russia's President Vladimir Putin (R) and FIFA President Joseph Blatter during the 2014/2018 FIFA World Cup handover ceremony. July 13, 2014.
© Sputnik / Alexander Vilf / Go to the mediabankThe official 2018 FIFA World Cup logo projection at the Bolshoi Theater's facade.
Presentation of  Official 2018 FIFA World Cup Logo - Sputnik International
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The official 2018 FIFA World Cup logo projection at the Bolshoi Theater's facade.
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Vitaly Mutko, Russian Minister of Sport and President of the Russia 2018 Organizing Committee, speaks at a news conference at Rossiya Segodnya’s International Multimedia Center, Moscow, dedicated to the launch of the campaign on designing the official mascot of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
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MOSCOW - 2018 FIFA World Cup™ Host City
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FIFA President Sepp Blatter delivers his speech during the opening session of the 39th Ordinary UEFA Congress in Vienna March 24, 2015. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger
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FIFA headquarters in Zürich, Switzerland.
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Russia's President Vladimir Putin (R) and FIFA President Joseph Blatter during the 2014/2018 FIFA World Cup handover ceremony. July 13, 2014.
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The official 2018 FIFA World Cup logo projection at the Bolshoi Theater's facade.
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