Putin sees U.S. conspiracy in FIFA crackdown

In a speech Thursday published on the Kremlin's website, Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized the arrests of FIFA officials in Zurich. Putin apparently believes the arrests are the U.S.' way of extending its power into other countries.

In the transcript of Putin's speech, he says the foreign arrests on U.S. charges represent "another blatant attempt by the United States to extend its jurisdiction to other states."

Putin defended FIFA and its president, Sepp Blatter, before discussing former NSA agent Edward Snowden and Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks. "Why have I recalled all this?" Putin said, about Snowden and Assange. "Unfortunately, our American partners use these methods to achieve their selfish goals and persecute people illegally. I don't rule out that this may be the same case with FIFA."

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