Putin slams FIFA corruption probe

(ANSA) - Moscow, May 28 - An FBI corruption probe that led to the arrest of seven senior FIFA officials in Zurich on Wednesday is a clear attempt to prevent the re-election of Sepp Blatter as president of international soccer's governing body, Russian President Vladimir Putin was quoted by Tass news agency as saying Thursday.
    Blatter has come under strong pressure to resign as FIFA president in light of the arrests, even as he is hoping to win a fifth mandate at elections scheduled for Friday. Putin claimed pressure had been exerted on the Swiss official to boycott the 2018 World Cup, which is to be held in Russia.
    Two FIFA vice-presidents are among those arrested on Wednesday pending extradition to the United States in relation to the FBI corruption probe. They are among 14 indicted on graft charges in relation to alleged involvement on bribes of around $100 million over two decades.
    Meanwhile, Swiss prosecutors announced they had launched a separate investigation into the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, with the latter allocated to Qatar.