Arrests of FIFA executives do not concern Russia - Duma deputy
MOSCOW. May 27 (Interfax) - The Wednesday arrests of a number of high-ranking officials of FIFA, association football's world governing body, will not affect the organization of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, says Igor Ananskikh, the head of the State Duma committee on physical culture and sports.
"This doesn't directly concern Russia in any way. All speculations that Russia could lose its status as the 2018 world championship host have no grounds. This will never happen, by definition," Ananskikh, who represents the Liberal-Democratic Party, told Interfax.
It was reported on Wednesday morning that several high-ranking FIFA officials were arrested in Zurich where they had arrived for an annual meeting. Western media reported that charges had been brought against Jeffrey Webb, Eugenio Figueredo, Jack Warner, Eduardo Li, Julio Rocha, Costas Takkas, Rafael Esquivel, Jose Maria Marin and Nicolas Leoz.
