By David Gold
January 25 – Russian Premier League team Amkar Perm have had their bank accounts frozen due to a $1.1 million (£700,000/€850,000) debt they owe to former club President Valery Chuprakov.
The business daily Kommersant has reported that Chuprakov is demanding the return of money he gave to the team whilst he was in charge.
Gennady Shilov, who replaced Chuprakov, told RIA Novosti: “We can’t pay off the debt in one payment, because we don’t currently have the means to do so, therefore we’ll press for the opportunity to pay in instalments.”
As a result of the dispute the club’s accounts have been blocked by courts until the situation is resolved.
Amkar is now facing a desperate situation as the money they owe accounts for over half of their annual budget, with doubts also being raised over the long term support of their main sponsor, Mineral Fertilisers.
The team almost did not compete in this year’s Premier League but regional Government support enabled them to take their place in the championship.
They are not the only Russian team in a precarious financial situation.
Tom Tomsk are, for the second time in three years, facing a desperate struggle to remain afloat and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has pledged to encourage energy companies to support them.
Tomsk, along with rivals FC Volga, were both banned from signing new players earlier this week as a result of unpaid player wages.
Since 2009 Torpedo Moscow, FC Saturn and FC Sochi have all folded as a result of mounting debts, and in the present circumstances it would seem likely that the next could follow soon.
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