Russia president Vladimir Putin has told current FIFA president Sepp Blatter that the country’s economic troubles will have no effect on the organization of the 2018 World Cup.
According to the Associated Press, Blatter told press he has been well aware of the economic problems, as the ruble (Russian currency) lost nearly half of its value last year due to depressed oil prices and “international sanctions”.
On Wednesday, the World Bank anticipated that Russia’s economy would “contract” by 2.9 percent for the year 2015.
Such difficulties have delayed millions of dollars in wages promised to Russia national team coach Fabio Capello, whom the Russian Football Union could’t afford to pay.
Blatter declined to comment on Capello’s scenario, except for the fact that “local problems” thwarted FIFA intervention, states the AP report.
[RELATED: Capello’s wages unpaid by RFU]
The 78-year-old also talked to Putin in his trip to Russia today, and the two have agreed that the current financial difficulties will not alter the hosting status of the World Cup.
Blatter unveiled his feelings on these circumstances, drawing similarities to Brazil’s situation when monetary shortcomings pressured their ability to host. He also declared that it would be unnecessary to decrease the number of cities holding matches, even though the Swiss football administrator previously suggested this action.“When I compare the same time with Brazil, at the time, I wouldn’t say it’s like heaven and hell, because I don’t believe that hell exists, but I think that’s a different heaven that we are facing here,” he said.
“There is no need to cut the number of stadia and the number of cities...It has been decided.”Three years are left until the World Cup actually occurs, and resolving any setbacks will certainly sit at the forefront of FIFA’s mind, whether or not the man in charge is Blatter.
