“This is really a hot topic and I think that in regard to Russia, it’s beginning to smolder out. First of all, there are already announcements from FIFA officials and representatives of large European football federations that the checks are almost complete and there are no breaches in voting for Russia’s candidacy and the [hosting of the ]World Cup in Russia will not be taken away,” Ivanov said.
In late May, several FIFA officials were arrested in Switzerland under a US anti-corruption warrant as a total of 14 world football figures were indicted by the US Justice Department on charges of money laundering, wire fraud and racketeering. FIFA President Joseph Blatter announced his resignation just four days after he was reelected as the head of the football association.
The hosting of the World Cup in Russia in 2018 and Qatar in 2022 has been criticized in light of the FIFA scandal.
