Vitaly Mutko

Vitaly Mutko
Виталий Мутко
Minister of Sport
Assumed office
21 May 2012
Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev
Minister of Sport, Tourism and Youth policy
In office
12 May 2008 – 21 May 2012
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin
Personal details
Born Vitaly Leontiyevich Mutko
(1958-12-08) 8 December 1958
Krasnodar Krai,
Soviet Union, now Russia
Political party United Russia
Alma mater Saint Petersburg State University
Signature
This name uses Eastern Slavic naming customs; the patronymic is Leontiyevich and the family name is Mutko.

Vitaly Leontiyevich Mutko (Russian: Виталий Леонтьевич Мутко; born December 8, 1958 in Krasnodar Krai) is a Russian politician. Since May 2008, he has been Minister of Sport, Tourism and Youth policy.[1]

Mutko was previously president of the Russian side FC Zenit Saint Petersburg, and then of the Russian Football Union.

World Cup bid

Mutko was the chairman for Russia's successful bid to host the World Cup in 2018. He has, however, been criticised for his comments about the rival English bid, such as by suggesting that English football is corrupt. By way of explanation, he said: "What I meant was that sometimes the English media say there is corruption in Russia, but I meant that if you dig deeply you find corruption in any country".[2]

Corruption allegations

Mutko accompanied the Russian team to the Winter Olympics in Vancouver in 2010. Afterwards, a report by the Russian parliament's Audit Chamber[3] criticised him for claiming for a total of 97 breakfasts during the team's twenty-day stay in Canada,[4][5] costing a total of $4,500.[6] Each night in his hotel was charged at $1,499.[4] In total, Mutko is said to have spent twelve times his official limit.[3] Mutko told Vedomosti newspaper: "Why do those who want to accuse me of something not interest themselves in how much the French sports minister paid for accommodation?"[3]

On 9 November 2015, a report by an independent commission of the World Anti-Doping Agency accused Mutko of likely complicity in a wide-ranging, state-sponsored doping scheme within Russian track and field. Dick Pound, the head of the commission, said, "It was impossible for him [Mutko] not to be aware of it. And if he’s aware of it, he’s complicit in it." It was further alleged that Mutko's agency had undue influence over RUSADA, the Russian anti-doping agency that should operate independently from influence of government or athletes.[7]

Public positions

Honours and awards

References

External links

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