FIFA’s President Sepp Blatter shakes hands with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin (R) during the preliminary draw for the 2018 FIFA World Cup at Konstantin Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia 25 July

FIFA boss Sepp Blatter deserves a Nobel Prize for his stewardship of soccer’s governing body, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview aired by Swiss broadcaster RTS on Monday.

On Saturday, at a meeting with Putin in St Petersburg, Blatter said that FIFA, facing a major bribery scandal, had passed a resolution offering full support for holding the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

“We all know the situation developing around Blatter right now. I don’t want to go into details but I don’t believe a word about him being involved in corruption personally,” he said.

“I think people like Blatter or the heads of big international sporting federations, or the Olympic Games, deserve special recognition. If there is anyone who deserves the Nobel Prize, it’s those people.”

Blatter announced he was quitting in June over a bribery scandal being investigated by U.S., Swiss and other law enforcement agencies that plunged FIFA into the worst crisis in its 111-year history. Officials have been indicted though Blatter himself has not and he denies any misconduct.

The scandal has cast a cloud over the forthcoming World Cups in Russia and Qatar, but Russian officials have dismissed any suggestion Russia could be stripped of the contest.

In May, when the scandal broke, Putin harshly criticised the U.S. investigation into FIFA as meddling in matters that were outside its jurisdiction.

He rekindled that criticism in the interview broadcast on Monday, and widened it to include Britain, noting that those two countries had bid to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

“The way there is this fight against corruption makes me wonder if it isn’t a continuation of the bids for 2018 and 2022.”

An economic crisis has forced cut-backs in Russia’s World Cup preparations, but Putin and FIFA officials have said this will not affect Russia’s ability to host the championship.

Race to succeed Blatter is ‘poker’ game: FIFA exec member

The race to succeed Sepp Blatter as FIFA president is like a “poker game”, long-serving FIFA executive committee member Michel d’Hooghe said on Monday.

“A poker game is currently being played. I think there will be a number of candidates, one from Europe,” Belgian D’Hooghe told Dutch broadcaster NOS.

D’Hooghe said UEFA president Michel Platini would be a good candidate.

“Michel Platini has led UEFA well and he has taken on all the challenges. He is a wonderful man, though, in his own way. Michel is highly appreciated in European football.”

The 69-year-old D’Hooghe, who has been a member of the powerful cabinet of world football for 27 years, will step down in two years, frustrated by allegations of corruption hanging over FIFA. “I will not be a candidate for re-election in 2017,” he said.

“I have family commitments and I can tell you that last two years have been very difficult for me. Having to insist all the time that I have done nothing wrong becomes a heavy burden to bear.” D’Hooghe was cleared in February of ethics breaches over a gift from Russia 2018 World Cup organisers and trying to secure a job in Qatar for the son of a friend. Qatar is to host the 2022 World Cup. “Everything you do comes under suspicion, everything. I have attempted to do everything ethically correct,” he said.

“And if at the end your career’s work is held in doubt, that is not enjoyable.” D’Hooghe last month criticised Blatter’s refusal to take responsibility for the corruption crisis following the arrest of several top officials in Zurich ahead of the FIFA Congress in May. “If there some that are corrupt, they have had a crushing impact,” he said.

“They have tarnished the reputation of all the people who give of their best for the Institution that is FIFA. And I find that very disappointing. “I can name hundreds of FIFA employees who do their work seriously but now have to walk a little with their heads bowed below their shoulders.”