Wednesday 28 October 2015 14:18, UK
Suspended FIFA president Sepp Blatter has insisted Russia will not lose the right to host the 2018 World Cup.
Russia were awarded the chance to host international football's biggest competition in 2010, winning the vote ahead of England as well as combined bids from Holland and Belgium and Spain and Portugal.
Earlier this month, Blatter was suspended along with UEFA president Michel Platini by FIFA's ethics committee for 90 days as investigations continue over their conduct.
There have been suggestions Russia could be stripped of hosting the World Cup, however Blatter has said this will not happen.
This is despite the head of the Serious Fraud Office confirming that it is looking into potential money-laundering offences related to the 2018 bid. It is also investigating the same offence with regards to the 2022 Qatar World Cup bid.
"It's ruled out," the 79-year-old said in an interview with Russian news agency TASS. "Russia will not lose the World Cup."
Blatter claimed in the summer that world football's governing body had complete trust in Russia holding the competition and met with the country's president Vladimir Putin prior to the qualification draw for the finals.
Putin confirmed his intention to "do all we can for sportsmen and fans alike to feel at home here", although his passing of anti-homosexual laws has caused widespread condemnation.
Blatter and Platini are currently appealing the judgement to suspend them from all football related activity, as the worst crisis to engulf FIFA in its 111-year history continues.
The 90-day ban for both men can also be extended by a further 45 days if FIFA's ethics deems it necessary.
FIFA's general secretary Jerome Valcke is also suspended, and Blatter said: "This is not justice.
"I put these people into the office, where they are now in the ethics committee and they don't even have the courage to listen to the secretary general, Platini or me.
"I called them for the principles of the human rights: before to be suspended or excluded from somewhere you have the right to answer and they have denied this. They made a summary investigation and three days later I was suspended."
