Russia not interested in FIFA probe, no requests from Swiss prosecutor - minister
MOSCOW. July 16 (Interfax) - Swiss prosecutors have sent no requests to Russia in relation to the case of corruption in FIFA, Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said.
"We have received no questions, everything is ok. The probe is under way. But we have no interest in it. The FIFA inquiry has nothing to do with the World Cup [with the preparations for the World Cup in Russia in 2018]," Mutko said.
The Russian sports minister added that he plans to speak at the next meeting of the FIFA Executive Committee.
"We have to decide as soon as possible on convening a FIFA conference and holding a new presidential election. And we should use all possible means to have this new president defending the image of this corporation, send them all packing, in the good sense of the word, in order that he can defend FIFA. This is a strong, powerful and the most open organization," the minister said.
In addition, Mutko said that "Americans and FBI should also 'work' in other Federations." "And instead, they are interfering with the organization which has already had a strong external management in place, with an international audit working there," Mutko said.
The minister said that there has been not a single allegation raised against FIFA headquarters in Zurich.