Putin Criticizes FIFA Indictments, United States

(ATR) The Russian leader says FIFA indictments by the United States are "yet another obvious attempt to spread their jurisdiction" to other countries.

Vladimir Putin suggests it is more than coincidence that led to the arrest of seven FIFA officials just two days before the federation’s presidential election.

"No doubt that this is obviously an attempt to prevent Mr. Blatter's re-election (as) FIFA president," Putin asserts.

Joseph Blatter has led the international football federation for the past 17 years. He is seeking election to his fifth-term as president on Friday.

The Russian president has publically announced his support of Blatter in the election. Blatter faces a single challenger, Prince Ali al-bin Hussein of Jordan.

The FIFA officials were arrested in Zurich, Switzerland and are now facing extradition to the United States. Those arrested are charged with bribery and racketeering by the U.S. Department of Justice. The investigation that produced these charges was lead by the FBI and U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch.

Lynch and FBI director James Comey held a press conference Wednesday afternoon after the arrests to announce the charges and defend their jurisdiction.

"If you touch our shores with your corrupt enterprise, whether that is through meetings or through using our world class financial system, you will be held accountable for that corruption," Comey describes as the reason the United States could draw charges and seek extradition of these officials from Switzerland.

Loretta Lynch (left) and James Comey announce indictments at a press conference.Vladimir Putin disagrees, saying the United States are "using these methods in order to achieve their own selfish gains, and it is illegal to persecute people. I would not rule out that in regards to FIFA, the same thing could be happening, though I do not know how it will end. The fact that this is happening right on the eve of the FIFA presidential elections gives one this exact impression."

Olympic gold medalist Donna de Varona tells Around the Rings this kind of action could have a negative effect for the United States when trying to bid for future events.

"I think there’s a whole world out there outside of the ones that hold the power that are relieved to see this happen, but if there’s enough insiders left, we get tagged with being the thugs in the room … the U.S. comes off like big heavies, and then we’re penalized when we want to host events," de Varona said.

Vying to be the host city for the World Cup has fueled the corruption charges seen in this scandal. The FIFA officials that have been indicted are accused of accepting bribes and kickbacks totaling approximately $150 million for arranging the 2010 World Cup to be hosted in South Africa.

After the arrests, Swiss authorities launched their own investigation into the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar.

Putin suggests that this scandal could also be an attempt by the United States to strip Russia of the 2018 World Cup. The United States unsuccessfully bid for both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

Written by Kevin Nutley

20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.