Blatter meets Putin at World Cup

The Kremlin confirmed the Wednesday evening meeting but said it was private and declined to provide details.

FIFA's Ethics Committee banned Blatter, who led FIFA for 17 years, from "all football activities" in 2015 after finding him guilty of unethical conduct related to a global corruption scandal which rocked the organisation.

His appearance in Moscow is therefore potentially embarrassing for FIFA and its new head, Gianni Infantino, who has promised to draw a line under FIFA's corruption problems and clean up the organisation.

Blatter, who has repeatedly denied wrongdoing, said on Thursday he had been invited to the World Cup by Russia, which he said had organised his trip and provided him with tickets and a fan ID.

"I met President Putin yesterday evening. He invited me to his apartment in the Kremlin. It's not the first time I'm there," the 82-year-old said.

Blatter, who was speaking at a hotel in central Moscow, said he and Putin, who have long known each other, had chatted about the World Cup and that Putin had spoken of the pleasure he took in hosting the tournament.

Blatter, who is Swiss, said he hoped the FIFA ban on him taking part in footballing activities would be lifted by the end of this year.

He said the Russian tournament felt like "my World Cup" and he felt like telling Infantino "well done" but added that FIFA should not be embarrassed by his presence there.

"There should be no reason that the new administration of FIFA should be against a former president coming to a World Cup. They should say 'yes, come in'... and then everyone would be happy."

Blatter, who attended a game between Portugal and Morocco on Wednesday, said he would attend a match between Brazil and Costa Rica later this week before flying out of St Petersburg.

FIFA has said the fact Blatter is attending matches does not constitute a direct breach of his ban.

Australian Associated Press