Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Sepp Blatter, the suspended Fifa president, is a very respected person who deserves to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
Whether there are signs of corruption in Fifa, the investigation must show. As for Joseph Blatter, he is a very respected person, he has done a lot for the development of world soccer, the Russian president said.
He has always tried to treat football not as a sport but as an element of cooperation between countries and peoples. He is the one who must be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
Putin also targeted critics who allege that corruption may have been behind Fifas decision to award Russia the right to host the World Cup in 2018.
We know firmly one thing that we received the right to host the World Cup in an absolutely honest and competitive fight, the Russian leader said.
Not a single country has the right to spread its jurisdiction to other states, to say nothing of international organisations, Putin added during his annual news conference, in a swipe at US prosecutors.
This does not mean at all that one should not fight corruption ... but we believe this practice, when in various parts of the world they snatch foreign citizens and drag them out to be interrogated and prosecuted, is unacceptable.
US prosecutors have issued 41 indictments so far, including football leaders from across the Americas, in a case they say involves $200m (£134m) in bribes and kickbacks tied to the marketing of major tournaments and matches.
Blatter has been suspended from his post pending a full investigation, and is also the subject of a criminal investigation in his native Switzerland. In a letter published on Wednesday he again proclaimed his innocence in the corruption scandal. He is due to testify this week to FIFAs ethics panel.
