Putin awards medal to Infantino

MOSCOW (AP):

Vladimir Putin has given FIFA president Gianni Infantino a medal. The Russian president awarded Infantino the Order of Friendship at the Kremlin yesterday.

Infantino has often said that last year's World Cup in Russia, where the host nation surprisingly reached the quarterfinals, was the best of the 21 editions of the tournament.

Putin thanked the FIFA leader for "your glowing assessment of our efforts".

Infantino says of Russia's "bonds of friendship" with football "is not the end, it is only the beginning of our fruitful cooperation and interaction".