Russian president Vladimir Putin is of the view that FIFA boss Sepp Blatter deserves a 'Nobel Prize' for his contribution to the world's football governing body.
Putin said that people like Blatter or the heads of big international sporting federations, or the Olympic Games, deserves special recognition.
He insisted that people like Blatter deserves the Nobel Prize, the BBC reported.
He also said, personally, he doesn't believe a word about him being involved in corruption.
US prosecutors have been investing the bids for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, won by Russia and Qatar respectively after ex-FIFA official Chuck Blazer admitted of accepting bribes for choosing countries to play hosts for the World Cups.
FIFA's image has been hampered after 14 sports marketing executives and football officials, including several from Zurich-based FIFA, were indicted by the United States in late May over corruption charges.
Meanwhile, Blatter has been planning to remain in office until FIFA holds an extraordinary congress to elect his successor next February.
