Putin criticizes

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Russia's prime minister dismisses the media scandal over alleged bribe-taking by FIFA officials as a smear campaign thought up to influence voting on the host country for the 2018 World Cup.

1. Wide: Putin coming in. 00:00-00:10
2. SOUNDBITE, Vladimir Putin, Russian Prime Minister (speaking Russian):
"I just spoke on the phone with FIFA's president Mr. Blatter. I told him that a Russian delegation will fly out to Zurich today to present Russia's application to host the 2018 World Cup. This delegation will be headed by First Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Shuvalov. In this light, I'd like to say that lately we have been observing a regrettable campaign against members of the FIFA executive committee. They have been smeared and there were attempts to discredit them. I view this as dirty competition ahead of the vote on which country will host the World Cup. In relation to this, I'd like to say that FIFA is not just an organization that stages football games. It is a large international structure that has a very important social function. It is not a secret that this sport, probably the most popular one in the world, draws the young away from the streets. From drugs and alcohol. I think such methods of competition are absolutely intolerable. Naturally, I would like to go to Zurich myself to present our application personally but, under the current conditions, I believe I has better stay on the sidelines out of respect for FIFA members and the FIFA Executive Committee members so that they can make their own objective decision without any outside pressure. I call on my counterparts from other countries to do the same. Russia, or any Eastern European country, has never hosted the football World cup. Russia is willing and able to do it. We are financially capable of organizing this major event. If we are given the honor, we will organize it in the most appropriate way. If the committee chooses Russia then I will, of course, immediately meet with President Blatter and members of the FIFA executive committee to discuss our plans on how to organize the World Cup."

3. Wide: various views of the meeting. 03:13-03:51