Vladimir Putin and Sepp Blatter just can’t stop praising each other. The Russian President, speaking with Swiss TV on Monday, said the embattled head of FIFA deserved a Nobel Prize .
Two days after Mr. Putin and Mr. Blatter hosted the preliminary draw for the 2018 World Cup, Mr. Putin said: “People like Blatter ... deserve special recognition.”
Mr. Blatter opened the draw ceremony on Saturday at a St. Petersburg palace, officially Putin’s residence, and warmly congratulated his host.
“Thank you, President Putin, you make us happy and comfortable,” said Mr. Blatter, on his first trip outside his native Switzerland since American and Swiss investigations of corruption were revealed in May. Besides Mr. Blatter, Mr. Putin said the heads of international sports federations and Olympic committees would be worthy recipients. Russia’s successful bid to host the World Cup is central to the Swiss federal investigation.
