Banned former FIFA president Sepp Blatter is expected to fly to Moscow on Tuesday to visit the soccer World Cup and meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, his spokesman told Reuters.
Blatter, who led FIFA for 17 years, is currently serving a six-year ban for unethical conduct after soccer's world governing body was rocked by a global corruption scandal in 2015.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. His appearance at the World Cup in Russia is potentially embarrassing for FIFA and its new head, Gianni Infantino, who has promised to draw a line under FIFA's corruption problems and clean up the organisation.
Blatter will meet Putin on Wednesday, spokesman Thomas Renggli said, and watch Portugal take on Morocco at Moscow's Luzhniki stadium.
Blatter told Reuters in March he had been invited to attend the World Cup by Putin, with whom he has a long-standing close relationship, and he was "honoured" to accept.
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