By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
July 5 – Senior senators have called for the dismissal of FIFA Executive Committee member Vitaly Mutko (pictured) as Russia’s Sports Minister following revelations he charged for five breakfasts a day during the Vancouver Olympics and a new survey ranked him as the country’s second most disliked Government official.
Senator Amir Gallyamov led the calls for Mutko’s sacking from the Sports, Tourism and Youth Politics Ministry over an Audit Chamber report that named him as one of the officials responsible for misspending money allocated for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.
Gallyamov, a member of the Sports Committee of the Russian Parliament’s Upper House, called on Federation Council lawmakers to ask Russia President Dmitry Medvedev to dismiss Mutko.
Vyacheslav Fetisov, one of Russia’s greatest ever ice hockey players who won two Olympic gold medals and is now head of the Sports Committee, claimed Gallyamov had only stated his personal opinion but added that he too blamed Mutko for the Vancouver fiasco.
He said: “The rumours were generated by personal remarks of some Senator.
“But if we want to win the Sochi Olympics [in 2014], we should consider it seriously what sort of people manage our sport.”
A Kremlin source allegedly told Vedomosti, a Russian language business daily with close connections with the Government, that Mutko’s dismissal was inevitable – which would have serious repercussions for Russia’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup.
But Government spokesman Dmitry Peskov refused to comment on whether Mutko would be sacked.
There was some support for him from Leonid Tyagachyov, who resigned as head of the Russian Olympic Committee after the Games.
He claimed that Mutko was not solely responsible for Russia’s worst ever performance at a Winter Olympics in Vancouver where they finished 11th in the overall medals table with 15 medals, only three of which were gold.
Tyagachyov said: “Those were collegial decisions.
“I can assure you that there were no huge violations.”
The Audit Chamber, found that Mutko had 97 breakfasts during his 20-day stay in Vancouver and spent $1,499 (£986) per night on his hotel room, even though government regulations limit officials to $130 (£85) per night.
The report did not call for the punishment of any official.
Meanwhile, a new poll released today claimed that 31 per cent of Russians disapproved of Mutko’s work, making him the country’s second least liked Minister.
Mutko tied for second place with Health and Social Development Minister Tatyana Golikova, while the title of least liked minister went to Education and Science Minister Andrei Fursenko, who had a disapproval rating of 37 percent.
The poll was conducted before the release of the Audit Chamber report.
Contact the writer of this story at zib.l1734782052labto1734782052ofdlr1734782052owedi1734782052sni@y1734782052akcam1734782052.nacn1734782052ud1734782052
Related stories
July 2010: FIFA Executive Committee member claimed for five breakfasts a day
July 2010: Russian Audit Report puts pressure on Mutko’s role as Sports Minister