AFP, Moscow :
Russian deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Mutko said Friday he would not appeal a FIFA decision to bar him from running for re-election to the council of football’s world governing body.
Mutko told TASS news agency that new “political neutrality” criteria prevented him from vying for the post and stressed the decision would have no effect on Russia’s preparations to host the 2018 World Cup.
“They want the organisation to be politically neutral, so that civil servants and representatives of the authorities of different countries don’t run in all bodies. It is their right,” Mutko told TASS.
“There will be no appeal,” he said. “This is non-governmental work after all. Everything is fine.”
Mutko had been one of five European candidates for seats on the FIFA Council to be decided in April.
Russian deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Mutko said Friday he would not appeal a FIFA decision to bar him from running for re-election to the council of football’s world governing body.
Mutko told TASS news agency that new “political neutrality” criteria prevented him from vying for the post and stressed the decision would have no effect on Russia’s preparations to host the 2018 World Cup.
“They want the organisation to be politically neutral, so that civil servants and representatives of the authorities of different countries don’t run in all bodies. It is their right,” Mutko told TASS.
“There will be no appeal,” he said. “This is non-governmental work after all. Everything is fine.”
Mutko had been one of five European candidates for seats on the FIFA Council to be decided in April.
