Vitaly Mutko quits as Russian Football Union president
Wednesday 19 December 2018 12:02, UK
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Mutko, who was banned from the Olympics for life because of the country's doping scandals, has resigned as president of the Russian Football Union.
The RFU says Mutko stepped down during Wednesday's executive committee meeting.
Russian soccer league president Sergey Pryadkin will serve as the RFU's acting president until its conference in February.
Mutko played a leading role in Russia's bid to host this year's World Cup and was in charge of the country's preparations for several years.
Last year, he stepped down temporarily as RFU president after the International Olympic Committee imposed the lifetime ban. But Mutko still remained closely linked with Russian soccer and attended national team training.
Russia has denied the allegations, and Mutko has appealed the IOC's decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
CAS has yet to set a hearing date.
