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Dismissal of senior FIFA official no threat to 2018 World Cup

Xinhua, September 18, 2015 Adjust font size:

The suspension of the world football governing body FIFA's senior executive will not affect preparations for the 2018 World Cup which will kick off after 1,000 days, Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said on Friday.

"I do not see any threats to the event," Mutko was quoted as saying in a telephone interview with RIA Novosti news agency.

FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke was relieved of his duties Thursday until further notice amid accusations of being involved in schemes to sell tickets for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil above their face value.

"FIFA keeps working, while people may come and go or be temporarily suspended. Such is the situation around FIFA," said Mutko, who is also a member of the FIFA executive committee.

The world soccer's governing body has been embroiled in a deep crisis after several senior officials were arrested on allegations of corruption and bribery in May in Zurich, Switzerland.

On Friday, ceremonies marking the 1,000-day countdown of the 2018 World Cup will be held on Moscow's Red Square and in other 33 Russian cities. Endi