Russian Football Union Claims It Is Close To Paying Salary Owed To National Team Manager

The Russian Football Union said that it "is close to paying the national football coach, Fabio Capello, who last received his salary six months ago," according to the AP. Hit by "financial problems," the RFU has been "unable to meet" Capello's reported £6.8M ($10.6M) salary but RFU President Nikolai Tolstykh said it "could now pay the arrears as soon as Wednesday." The organization will use "any official source" of funds to "help the RFU fulfil its obligations to Capello." Tolstykh also said the RFU has arranged to "end a standoff with its referees and match officials over unpaid wages, hours after the dispute became public." A match inspector claimed that the officials "have not been paid for three months" and are owed a total in excess of £280,000 ($434,000) (AP, 12/29).