Russian hopes hit by Putin's refusal to attend all-important bid announcement

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has not travelled to Zurich to support the Russian bid because of what he describes as a smear campaign against Fifa executives – a broadside against the British media.

Putin's absence casts a doubt over Russia's hopes – they were favourites – and now Spain/Portugal look to be England's main rivals, despite Portugal winger Cristiano Ronaldo having also decided against travelling to the Swiss capital due to an ankle injury.

The bidding process has been overshadowed by allegations of collusion between Spain/Portugal and 2022 bidders Qatar. There has also been controversy over the Sunday Times investigation into Fifa members that led to six officials being banned, and BBC Panorama's claims this week that three other Fifa members accepted bribes in the 1990s.

Putin said in a speech on Russian television: "I would like to note that recently we have watched with disappointment as an obvious campaign was being unleashed against members of the Fifa executive committee.

"They are being dragged through the mud and compromised. I interpret this as unfair competition. We believe that such methods of competition are entirely unacceptable.

"Under these circumstances, I think it would be best not to go out of respect for the members of the Fifa executive committee, so that they could make their decision in peace and without any outside pressure."

Putin said deputy prime minister Igor Shuvalov would attend the vote in his place.

Putin later confirmed in a statement that he believed there had been an attempt to smear Fifa members.

"They are being smeared. There is an attempt to discredit them," added Putin, who spoke to Fifa president Sepp Blatter yesterday via telephone.

"This seems to constitute unfair competition during the run-up to the voting.

"In this respect, I would like to say that Fifa is not just simply an organisation for conducting football matches. Fifa is a major international organisation, whose activities in the social area are very important globally. It is not a secret that football is probably one of the most popular sports. It keeps our young people away from the streets, illicit drugs and drinking."

Putin called on the governing body to bring the World Cup to Russia for the first time.

"The world football championship has never been held either in Russia, or anywhere else in eastern Europe," added Putin.

"Russia has both the will and the capabilities, including financial, to organise this major sport event.

"And if we are granted this honour, rest assured we will deliver a championship at the highest possible level."

Real Madrid want Ronaldo to stay in Spain after the world's most expensive footballer underwent tests which revealed the damage to the right ankle. He will receive treatment over the next 24-48 hours to see if he can be fit to face Valencia in La Liga this weekend.

Other figures set to support the Iberian bid in Ronaldo's absence are the Portugal captain's Real team-mate Iker Casillas, plus the current coaches of the two national teams Vicente del Bosque and Paulo Bento, and famous former players such as Luis Figo, Fernando Hierro, and Emilio Butragueno as well as the legendary Eusebio.

The Prime Ministers of the respective countries, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero of Spain and Jose Socrates of Portugal, are also part of the bid team.

Former Portugal international Figo said: "To have the opportunity to host a World Cup is an honour and privilege for any nation.

"Portugal and Spain have everything you need to be model hosts, particularly given the passion for football in both countries."