Russian tycoon Alisher Usmanov has provided a non-repayable 1B ruble ($16M) subsidy to the Russian Football Union (RFS), which roughly corresponds to the compensation RFS is reportedly supposed to pay to fired national football team coach Fabio Capello. "I believe it is important for our government and public organizations to observe obligations they took on, including those before foreign specialists," Usmanov said in a statement distributed by his press service. "I hope that the our national squad's new coach will be able to unite the players, prepare them for victories and start a new series of Russian football's successful performances at international tournaments."
RIDING TO THE RESCUE: RFS announced it was firing Capello on July 14. The compensation he is to collect for the termination of the contract has never been made public, but, according to local press reports, it is between €8M and €15M. It is not the first time Usmanov, the second largest shareholder in Premier League club Arsenal, has come to RFS' rescue. Earlier this year, he provided two subsidies of 400M rubles ($6.3M) and 300M rubles ($4.8M), respectively, which were used to cover the organization's outstanding debts to Capello. RFS is expected to announce Russia's new coach this week.
Vladimir Kozlov is a writer in Moscow.