Russian President Vladimir Putin has a name in mind for the Nobel Prize: Sepp Blatter, the leader of FIFA, soccer's global governing body.

"We all know the situation developing around Mr. Blatter right now. I don't want to go into details but I don't believe a word about him being involved in corruption personally," Putin told a Swiss TV station, according to Reuters. "I think people like Mr. Blatter or the heads of big international sporting federations, or the Olympic Games, deserve special recognition. If there is anyone who deserves the Nobel Prize, it's those people."

FIFA, the organization that Blatter runs, is currently deeply embroiled in a bribery scandal that led to the arrests of seven FIFA officials back in May. And, in June, Blatter announced that he will step down from his current position.

Though Blatter has not been arrested or connected to any wrongdoing, he didn't travel to Vancouver, Canada to attend the Women's World Cup final this summer because he didn't want to take the risk of traveling while the investigation against FIFA continues.

"Not because the Americans have anything concrete against me, but because it would cause a public stir," Blatter told Germany's Welt am Sonntag newspaper, according to The Los Angeles Times. "Until everything has been cleared up, I am not going to take the risk of traveling."

Recently, Blatter did travel to St. Petersburg, Russia to meet with Putin regarding the 2018 World Cup, which is scheduled to be played in Russia. According to Reuters, FIFA passed a resolution that still supports Russia's bid to host the 2018 World Cup, despite the bribery scandal.

Putin, who has been critical of the investigation into FIFA, believes that the US and England, two countries that submitted bids to host the next two World Cups, are simply trying to continue their bids to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

"The way there is this fight against corruption makes me wonder if it isn't a continuation of the bids for 2018 and 2022," Putin said.

Vladimir Putin endorsed Sepp Blatter for the Nobel Prize. (USATSI)