23 Facts About Vitaly Mutko

Vitaly Leontiyevich Mutko is a Russian politician who served as the Deputy Prime Minister of Russia from 2016 to 2020.

Vitaly Mutko started working as a technician on shipping vessels in 1977.

Vitaly Mutko attended the Water Transport Institute in Leningrad, graduating from the River Vocational College in 1987.

Vitaly Mutko graduated from the Law Department of Saint Petersburg State University in 1999.

Vitaly Mutko moved into sports administration and became the president of FC Zenit Saint Petersburg in 1997.

Vitaly Mutko founded the Russian Premier League in 2001 and became its president, a position which he held until 2003.

Vitaly Mutko was appointed to the committee of Russian Paralympic Committee in 2002 and has chaired committees and charities for helping people with mental disabilities.

Vitaly Mutko was elected as the President of Russian Football Union in April 2005, a position in which he served until November 2009.

Vitaly Mutko was appointed as the Minister of Sport, Tourism and Youth Policy on 12 May 2008 by President Dmitry Medvedev.

Vitaly Mutko was appointed as a member of FIFA's Executive Committee in 2009.

Vitaly Mutko was the chairman of Russia's successful 2018 FIFA World Cup bid.

Vitaly Mutko was reappointed as Minister of Sport on 21 May 2012 by President Putin.

Vitaly Mutko was barred from standing in re-election as a member of FIFA Council in March 2017 due to his ministerial role that was against the statutes of political neutrality and the prevention of any form of government interference.

Vitaly Mutko announced temporarily relinquishing his position on 25 December 2017 as President of Russian Football Union for a period of six months to appeal against his Olympic ban, which was later lifted by the Court of Arbitration for Sports in Lausanne, Switzerland.

On 18 May 2018, he was re-appointed Deputy Prime Minister, while instead of sports issues, in the new cabinet, Vitaly Mutko began to oversee the construction and development of regions.

Vitaly Mutko was the chairman for Russia's successful bid to host the World Cup in 2018.

Vitaly Mutko has been criticised for his comments about the rival English bid, such as by suggesting that English football is corrupt.

Vitaly Mutko accompanied the Russian team to the Winter Olympics in Vancouver in 2010.

In total, Vitaly Mutko is said to have spent twelve times his official limit.

On 9 November 2015, a report by an independent commission of the World Anti-Doping Agency accused Vitaly Mutko of overseeing a wide-ranging, doping scheme within Russian track and field.

In December 2010, when Vitaly Mutko was at a meeting in Zurich with the executive committee of FIFA about the 2018 World Cup's host country, he delivered a welcoming speech in English with a strong Russian accent.

Vitaly Mutko's English was the subject of nonstop jokes from the Russian government.

Vitaly Mutko is engaged in commercial activities in sectors of the economy that provide a significant source of income for the Russian government, which initiated military operations and genocide of civilians in Ukraine.