Newly appointed Russian deputy prime minister Vitaly Mutko said on Thursday he might stand down as president of the Russian Football Union (RFU) as preparations for the 2018 World Cup, which the country is hosting, are stepped up. President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday appointed Mutko as deputy prime minister for sports, tourism and youth policy, an effective promotion from his previous governmental role as sports minister. Mutko, who oversaw Russia's disappointing showing at Euro 2016, became caretaker head of the RFU in September 2015 when his predecessor, Nikolay Tolstykh, was removed by a vote of no-confidence. More...