FIFA vice-president Victor Montagliani outlandishly claimed yesterday that Russia and Qatar winning the right to host the World Cup was “the best thing that happened in football.”

Montagliani, who took over as Concacaf president following the disgraced Jeffrey Webb, said that the sport would still be blighted by corruption if Russia and Qatar had not been chosen to host the next two editions of the tournament.

Russia will host it in 2018 and Qatar four years later, with both nations winning controversial votes almost six years ago.