Topic: Sepp Blatter

In an interview with Bloomberg, Sergey Lavrov comments on the FIFA corruption scandal, suggesting the timing was intended to derail Sepp Blatter's re-election and Russia's 2018 World Cup hosting. He also discusses Russia's historical ties to Greece, refusing to offer advice on whether Greece should stay in the EU, and critiquing the "American philosophy" of telling other nations what to do.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter announced his resignation following a massive FBI indictment led by Attorney General Loretta Lynch targeting an "organized crime syndicate" within international soccer. The investigation has caused high-ranking officials to avoid travel to countries with strong U.S. extradition treaties, such as Canada. Analysts suggest this marks a permanent shift in how international sporting bodies are held accountable for financial crimes and bribery.

Sepp Blatter was re-elected as FIFA president despite a massive corruption indictment led by the U.S. Department of Justice. RT coverage suggested the arrests were a "last-ditch assault" by the U.S. and UK due to bitterness over losing World Cup bids to Russia and Qatar. The hosts discuss the involvement of FBI Director James Comey and the potential for major banks like HSBC and Barclays to face fines as conduits for bribe money.

Speculation arises regarding the Clinton Foundation's potential links to the FIFA scandal, though mainstream media has largely ignored this angle. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized the U.S. investigation as meddling outside its jurisdiction. U.S. Senators, including John McCain, have called for FIFA head Sepp Blatter to resign over his support for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

The Palestinian Football Association is seeking to have Israel suspended from FIFA, citing restrictions on the movement of Palestinian players and the presence of Israeli teams in the West Bank. FIFA President Sepp Blatter has attempted to mediate the conflict, suggesting a "peace match" in Zurich, but the U.S. indictment of FIFA officials is viewed by some as a move to protect Israeli interests within the organization.