There were a number of reports yesterday on twitter that Valdimir Putin was replacing his controversial Minister for Sport, Vitaly Mutko as part of a huge shake up of Russia's sport structures. Mutko is also the head of the Russia 2018 organising committee and was rumoured to be losing that position also. He has was accused of being involved in Russia's doping scandal and there was evidence that he covered up a positive drug test of a footballer. Fifa, of who he is an Executive Committee (now Fifa Council) member, saw nothing untoward in his behaviour.
Today, I expected more news about this pretty big news. However, it seems that it was a little premature to get excited about the demise of this highly controversial figure. And why, really, would it be correct of me to be enthused by any Putin decision? But, that aside, it seems that quite the opposite may be happening. One angle on twitter today was that Mutko may be getting more power, responsible for a new authority overseeing sport, youth and tourism, and also possibly culture.
Another theory is that he will become a vice Prime Minister, while also remaining in charge of sport and the World Cup.
It seems that while Putin's reason for restructuring the sports authorities was in response to the doping scandal, he has no problem giving more power to the man who was most likely a very influential player in the system that allowed it to happen.
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