Disgraced Blatter to attend World Cup in Russia as Putin's guest

The Swiss confirmed that he will attend the tournament in Russia as a guest of its president, Vladimir Putin, and will be primarily based in Moscow.

Talking to the 'New York Times', he said: 'I am [Putin's] guest. We will meet somewhere, but I don't know where yet because they refuse to disclose the exact location. It will be a sporting and diplomatic mission for me.'

Blatter, 82, was banned in 2015 for six years as a result of an investigation into his conduct will at the head of football's governing body by its ethics committee.

However, the attendance of the ex-FIFA boss could prove difficult for his predacessor, Gianni Infantino who is trying to move the organisation away from the corrupt image it had before he took over the reigns in 2016.