MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko described Sepp Blatter's decision on Tuesday to step down as FIFA president as "courageous" and said it would help prevent a split within soccer's governing body, RIA news agency reported.
Blatter unexpectedly quit earlier on Tuesday in the face of a corruption investigation that has engulfed FIFA in the worst crisis of its history.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has backed Blatter and accused the United States of meddling outside its jurisdiction in seeking the arrest of top officials from FIFA.
"For the soccer family this decision is unexpected, but it is his decision, a courageous decision, with love for FIFA," Mutko said.