Vitaly Mutko



Vitaly Leontiyevich Mutko (born 8 December 1958) is a Russian politician who has served as Deputy Prime Minister of Russia since 2016. He was the Minister of Sport from 2008 to 2016. Mutko was previously president of the Russian side FC Zenit Saint Petersburg, and is also the President of the Russian Football Union.

Mutko accompanied the Russian team to the Winter Olympics in Vancouver in 2010. Afterwards, a report by the Russian parliament's Audit Chamber criticised him for claiming for a total of 97 breakfasts during the team's twenty-day stay in Canada, costing a total of $4,500. Each night in his hotel was charged at $1,499. In total, Mutko is said to have spent twelve times his official limit. 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?"

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, 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.
 

Undermining the Mundial

Officials09.01.2017

Will the investigation of Mutko's activities result in depriving Russia of the football world championship in 2018?

FIFA World Cup 2018 won't be held in Russia

Society03.01.2017

The feeling that the World Cup in 2018 will not take place in Russia, began to appear a long time ago. In recent years, there have been more and more events to strenghten this opinion.

How McLaren's report threats the career of Mutko

Society12.12.2016

More than a thousand Russian athletes might have been involved in the machinations with a doping test, says a new report of Richard McLaren for WADA. Sources told RBC whether the scandal could cost Vitaly Mutko the post of deputy prime minister.

How Putin paid for Rio

Society09.08.2016

Admission of Russian athletes to the Olympics coincided with payments to the American lobbyists through "Sportloto"

How US lobbyists won "Sportloto"

Society08.08.2016

Money of the Russian Charitable Fund was used to finance American lobbyists.

Spite the records: how the doping scandal threatens Russia's sports

Society10.03.2016

The list of Russian athletes found guilty of doping has grown to seven people. Sponsors disclaim contracts, sports functionaries blame the machinations of competitors, and the deputies demand resignations in the Ministry of Sports.

Sharapova became the focus of a terrible doping scandal

Society08.03.2016

Five-time winner of the Grand Slam tournaments, the seventh-ranked person in the WTA rankings, one of the most popular tennis players in the world Maria Sharapova shocked the fans, saying that she didn't pass the doping test taken in January.

Other people's debts: Alisher Usmanov has saved the Russian football

Business11.01.2016

Businessman spend 1 billion to save the Russian Football Union from the debacle, and became patron of the year, according to Forbes.

Mutko reported an increase in the cost of the stadiums for the 2018 World Cup by 40%

Officials20.04.2015

World Cup Organizing Committee has adopted a number of measures, including, "relatively speaking, import substitution".

Russian Football Union's credit indebtedness is 430 million rubles

Society01.12.2014

The financial director of the RFU Vadim Parkhachev explained why his organization had no money for the execution of the contract with Fabio Capello.

Central Stadium has become a daunting challenge

Officials17.10.2013

14 billion rubles are at stake. The situation is transformed into a competition between Medinsky and Mutko.