Russia says Blatter, Platini to be invited to World Cup

MOSCOW: Disgraced world football president Sepp Blatter and the sport’s European head, Michel Platini, will be invited to the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said on Monday.

Blatter and Platini, the two men at the top of the world’s most popular sport, were banned by football governing body FIFA for eight years in December over a spate of corruption scandals on their watch that, among other things, raised questions about Russia’s right to host the tournament.

Mutko had told Russia’s R-Sport news agency on Sunday that Blatter and Platini were appealing against their bans and were still permitted to attend football events.

“Formally, the suspension prohibits them from any position in football. But on the other hand, how is that an outstanding player like Michel Platini can’t go to the football?” Mutko was quoted as saying. “We will invite them and I see no problems with the events we are hosting,” he added.