December 7 – Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov has claimed that he hopes the Republic’s capital Grozny will be chosen to host a match when Russia stages the World Cup in 2018.
The city, which is at the heart of Russia’s most volatile area, was not among the list of 13 Russian cities, including Moscow, Sochi and St Petersburg, put forward in their successful bid but Kadyrov remains optimistic that he change organisers minds.
He claims that Chechnya, which saw two brutal separatist wars in the 1990s and early 2000s, is not on the list, should be allowed to stage at least one match because the Republic’s residents “really love football.”
“We will try to host at least one of the matches,” Kadyrov told a Government session.
“This event could give a powerful impetus for developing the sport, not only in the Republic but also in the entire [south Russian] North Caucasus Federal District,
“We really love football in the North Caucasus.
“We are completing in Grozny the construction of a stadium that meets all international norms and can host matches at the highest level.
“We will certainly put forward our city to host some games.”
The Chechen leader claimed that a number of players from Chechnya’s Terek Grozny – the club he is President of – have a real chance of making it onto the Russian team in 2018.
Kadyrov said the Chechen authorities have recently been supporting a drive to encourage sport and physical activity in the Republic by constructing a number of sports facilities, including a stadium in Grozny.
The Chechen President, a former militant, has pledged to turn Chechnya into a popular tourist destination.
He said earlier the republic intended to create a large ski resort and rebuild architectural sites to attract tourists.