Infantino fair, invariably good towards Russia - Putin
MOSCOW. June 13 (Interfax) - Gianni Infantino became president of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) at a difficult time but has proved his commitment to the interests of international football, Russian President Vladimir Putin said during a FIFA congress in Moscow on Wednesday.
"I want to address special words of gratitude to Mr. Infantino, note his commitment to the ideals of sport and fair play, and of course, his invariably positive treatment of our country. We know that Infantino became FIFA head during difficult times but he has stayed on the course with much dignity like a true fighter," Putin said.
The upcoming championship is important for Russia, he said. "Many generations of our fans dreamed about hosting the best teams of the world, and tomorrow this dream will become a reality," Putin said.
Twelve first-class stadiums and infrastructure have been built for the world cup, he said.