Mutko was summoned for questioning on charges of corruption in FIFA – RBC

Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko

Photo: RIA Novosti

The fact that the Swiss authorities Mutko questioned on charges of corruption in FIFA, told the newspaper The Guardian. According to the publication, along with the Russian minister of sport will testify nine current members of the executive committee of the organization.

The list, according to the British newspaper, were president of the African Football Confederation, Issa Ayat, head of the Royal Spanish Football Federation Angel Maria Villar, D’Hug Michel (Belgium), Senes Erzik (Turkey), Voravi IAVE (Thailand), Marios Lefkaritis (Cyprus) and Hany Abo Rida (Egypt).

FIFA President Sepp Blatter and the President of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Michel Platini in this list are not included, but can also be questioned, said The Guardian.

Mutko himself denies calling in for questioning.

«Let [the English media] write . But I did not call anybody anywhere. If it will cause, not only me, but all the members of the executive committee [FIFA]. While I have no such information “, – the minister said RIA Novosti. He did not rule out a conversation with the investigating authorities in Switzerland.

«If such an invitation for an interview will be, I will gladly accept it. We have nothing to hide, why hide? Probably will interrogate all the members of the executive committee. We communicate with colleagues, while it is not “, – the minister said.

Earlier on Wednesday it became known that in Zurich arrested a number of high-ranking FIFA officials on corruption charges. According to investigators, the officials allegedly received a bribe in the consideration of applications for the World Cup, the conclusion of marketing deals and selling broadcast rights.

Officials are accused of fraud, extortion and money laundering.

As According to the US Justice Department, among those arrested – Vice-President of the Executive Committee of FIFA Jeffrey Webb and Eugenio Figueredo, former vice-president of FIFA, Jack Warner, FIFA officials Julio Rocha, Eduardo Li, Costas Takkas Rafael Eskuivel, a member of the organizing committee of the World Cup, Jose Maria Marin. All involved in the case are 14 people, including officials who participated in the elections hosts the world championships in 2018 and 2022.

Commenting on the arrests, Mutko told RBC that it does not concern Russia’s bid to host the World Cup Cup in 2018. “While the reason for the cancellation of the results of the selection of the two countries for the championships 2018 and 2022 there. If Swiss prosecutors have additional questions, I as a member of the FIFA Executive Committee is ready to give any explanation. We won completely honest, “- said Mutko. According to him, “the arrested members of the FIFA Executive Committee -new people who were not in the executive committee voting for Russia and Qatar».

A similar statement was made on Wednesday, the head of the Duma Committee on Physical Culture, Sport and Youth Affairs Igor Ananskikh . “I’m with the utmost confidence I can say that all questions to the arrested members of FIFA are not connected with the application of Russia”, – quotes its Reuters.