Lame duck FIFA president Sepp Blatter made the most of his strong alliance with Russian leader Vladimir Putin at the World Cup qualifying draw in St Petersburg. Blatter met Putin at Peter the Great's Konstantin summer Palace ahead of the draw and the pair then shared the stage at the ceremony twice clasping hands in a sign of their firm friendship And Blatter told his Russian host that FIFA had complete trust in Russia hosting the 2018 tournament despite a Swiss criminal investigation being on going into the staging of both the 2018 and 2022 tournaments. However no mention was made in either of the two Presidents' brief speeches about the corruption crisis that has engulfed FIFA.Sepp Blatter completely trusts Russia in hosting the 2018 World CupBlatter was alongside Russia President Vladimir Putin for the ceremonyCriminal investigation is on-going into the staging of the 2018 tournamentNeither Presidents mention the corruption scandal in their brief speeches
We are on track, _ will be a fantastic host.