Russian Football Union Eases Financial Crisis With Novatek Deal

The "financial crisis that engulfed" the Russia Football Union "eased slightly with the announcement of gas company Novatek coming on board as a main sponsor," according to Paul Nicholson of INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL. No figure "was announced for the deal" which will go through the end of '18. Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said, "It's a major event for the RFU. The deal will help the national squad prepare for major tournaments in the best possible way." Under Mutko's predecessor Nikolai Tolstykh, "RFU debts had reached" 2B rubles ($30.1M). Mutko: "I hope that the rough times for the RFU will soon come to an end. The financial situation has been disastrous. We hope we can make the RFU budget balanced in just a year." Novatek is Russia's "second biggest gas company" and fulfills about 18% of the country's gas demands (INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL, 11/19).