January 5 – Vitaly Mutko’s humiliating decision to step down as head of Russia’s World Cup organising committee in the wake of the ongoing doping scandal is now official.
According to the Russian news agency Tass, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has signed a formal declaration confirming Mutko is being replaced by local organising committee (LOC) CEO Alexei Sorokin.
Mutko announced his decision to resign as LOC Chairman in late December following the decision of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to ban him for life from attending all Olympic-related events. He also suspended his activities as the president of the Russian Football Union (RFU) in order to plan his appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against his Olympic ban.
It seems pretty clear, however, that behind the scenes Mutko, who is still deputy prime minister, will continue to influence World Cup proceedings, albeit not when it comes to the public face of the tournament.
“He (Sorokin) will interact with FIFA. I will coordinate the work on the government side,” Mutko told TASS.
FIFA has already made clear its relief at Mutko’s decision to relinquish his various footballing roles. “FIFA understands Mr Mutko’s decision which was also taken in the best interest of the World Cup next summer,” a statement said last month.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1713240143labto1713240143ofdlr1713240143owedi1713240143sni@w1713240143ahsra1713240143w.wer1713240143dna1713240143