Russian Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Mutko, who this week suspended his activity as president of the Russian Football Union (RFU), also resigned as chairman of the organizing committee of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia-2018. This was reported by the “R-sport” agency.
According to Mutko, the chairman of the organizing committee of the 2018 World Cup will be its CEO, member of the FIFA Council Alexei Sorokin. “Sorokin will be the chairman of the organizing committee of Russia-2018, I will focus on my work in the government. Sorokin will serve as both the chairman of the organizing committee and our representative in FIFA. There is still a lot of work, but I am absolutely sure that everything will be prepared on time, ”Mutko said.
On Monday, December 25, the RFU executive committee temporarily suspended Mutko’s powers as president “due to the short-term impossibility of their execution” for six months. RFU General Director Alexander Alaev has been appointed as Acting President. He thanked Mutko for his work and noted that the official will continue to manage football, but already as a curator in the government. “We have agreed on everything – Alayev will manage everything. And I will be there, ”said Mutko (quote from Sport Express).
At the same time, Mutko said that he could also leave the post of chairman of the Russia-2018 organizing committee, since it is logical “to remain in public office, resign from public positions”. He promised that, as Deputy Prime Minister, he would continue to oversee Russia’s preparations for the World Cup.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on December 5 for life deprived Mutko of the opportunity to participate as an official from Russia in the Olympics. In addition, the IOC Executive Board temporarily suspended the membership of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC). At the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, the Russian team will not be able to play under the national flag. Only “clean” Russian athletes will be admitted to the competition, who will have to compete under a neutral flag. Mutko has already promised to challenge in the sports arbitration in Lausanne (CAS) the IOC’s decision to ban him from attending the Olympic Games for life.
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