DISGRACED ex-Fifa president Sepp Blatter said today that England “deserve” to host the 2030 World Cup and kindly offered to use his influence in the Fifa corridors to make it happen.

Blatter is in Moscow as a guest of Russian President Vladimir Putin despite being banned from all football activities.

Blatter, much to Fifa’s obvious unease, attended yesterday’s Portugal-Morocco game at the Luzhniki Stadium and then had dinner with Putin and Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Mutko in the head of state’s Kremlin apartment.

The 82-year-old said he and Putin exchanged “small talk” and the president reminded him of the telephone conversation they had on December 2 2010, when Russia won the right to host the 2018 World Cup, beating, among others, a bid from England.

Blatter, who has been suspended by football’s world governing body since October 2015, backed Russia’s bid then, but believes it is time for England to try again. And he is willing to help.

“I still feel that England, the motherland of football, should have a World Cup when it’s the turn of Europe,” said Blatter, pointing out that 1966 was a long time ago.

“There will be a lot of contenders [for 2030] but they will deserve it, and Scotland, Wales and the Irish — why not? — should be in, too, because that would be a better candidate for a 48-team World Cup. That’s a lot [of games] for one country.

“So good luck for England.”

Asked if he would use the influence he built up during his 17-year reign as Fifa boss to support a British bid, he said: “OK, I will use my influence, if England will accept my influence.”

Given the Football Association’s recent experiences of bidding for World Cups, they might be tempted to accept any help they are offered. Blatter’s, though, might not be such a good idea.

In a terse statement, Fifa said it “had taken note of Mr Blatter’s visit to Russia” but had no further comment to make and it was telling that there was no footage or pictures of world football’s former frontman at yesterday’s game.