With No Fear Of Arrest, Sepp Blatter Finally Leaves Home For... Russia

Sepp Blatter is not afraid. Sure, he hasn’t left his native Switzerland since that little international scandal that locked up a number of top FIFA officials—he recently skipped out on the Women’s World Cup in Canada and the U-20 World Cup in New Zealand—but that’s not because he’s had anything to fear. As proof, he’s just partaken in some international travel of his own, making the journey all the way out to Russia.

Here’s the Washington Times on the Emperor’s latest travel plans:

FIFA president Sepp Blatter is due in Russia on Thursday for his first overseas trip since the arrests of fellow soccer executives in May left him unwilling to leave the safety of Switzerland.

Saturday’s qualifying draw in St. Petersburg for the 2018 World Cup will be the 79-year-old Blatter’s last official event connected to football’s showcase tournament before he prematurely leaves office in February.

Although Blatter has not been accused of wrongdoing by American or Swiss authorities, the repercussions of the corruption investigations convinced the president to hastily announce resignation plans last month just four days after his re-election and to decide to stay in Switzerland.

See, would a man afraid of an indictment and possible extradition at the behest of the U.S. government head over to a noted American ally like Russia? I think not.

[ Washington Times]