The Russian Premier League is the sixth highest-paying football league in the world, with players earning an average annual salary of 67 million rubles ($1.4 million), according to a study published by the Daily Mail last week.
The Russian league ranked behind the professional football leagues of the U.K., Germany, Italy, Spain and France in terms of its players' average salaries, the study revealed.
Russian authorities and football fans have come to realize that a hefty budget is not necessarily a measure of success.
Fabio Capello — the head coach of Russia's national team, who was lured to lead the team with an $11 million annual salary — was reportedly the highest-paid trainer at this year's World Cup in Brazil, according to Forbes. Capello — who reportedly has not been paid since June — was harshly criticized after his squad flamed out of the tournament at the group stage.
Last week the Russian Football Union said it did not have enough money to pay Capello, Interfax reported. Since the announcement, Russian media outlets have speculated that Team Russia's friendly match against Hungary on Tuesday could be Capello's last day in his position.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.