Vladimir Putin says U.S. is meddling in FIFA affairs

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Russian President Vladimir Putin says the United States is meddling in FIFA's affairs to try to stop the organization from allowing Russia to be host for the 2018 FIFA World Cup it bid for and won, but also to hinder president Sepp Blatter's re-election.

Fourteen current and former high-ranking FIFA officials were arrested on Wednesday and charged by the U.S. Department of Justice with 47 counts of racketeering. Putin believes that the charges are just a ploy to undercut Blatter at FIFA's world conference in Zurich.

“Unfortunately our American partners are using these methods in order to achieve their own selfish gains, and it is illegal to persecute people. I would not rule out that in regards to FIFA, the same thing could be happening, though I do not know how it will end,” Putin said, according to RT.com, the website for a Moscow-based international news operation.

"This is a blatant violation of the principle of how international organizations function," Putin said, according to USA Today. "We are aware of the pressure that he was subjected to in relation to Russia holding the 2018 World Cup."

Many have called for Blatter's resignation, but he has refused to step down. The FIFA presidential election is still scheduled to occur on Friday.

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