By Paul Nicholson
December 10 – Russia is progressing with its 2018 infrastructure build and it is an impressive organisational machine to observe in this respect; Brazil could do well to take notes as it now prepares for the Rio 2016 Olympics. But where Russia and Brazil do appear to have commonalities is when it comes to not paying those working in the game.
Russia’s national team coach, Italian Fabio Capello, has been unpaid for six months, yet stays in the country and remains in his job.
In an interview with the Moscow Times Capello said that he has stayed “six months without salary because I respect Russia and I respect the people”.
Rumours were that Capello was unpaid because the Russians wanted him to leave and break his contract, hence breaking any requirement for the Russian Football Union (RFU) to pay him severance. Now there seems to be a growing realisation that Capello does not have much to work with – the players aren’t world beaters and the structure isn’t creating any.
Capello very quickly became a national hero when he took the national team job on a salary believed to over $11 million. Having qualified for Brazil he was then rewarded with a contract taking him through the World Cup in Russia in 2018.
In Brazil the Russians showed some signs of promise, and if it hadn’t been for goalkeeping blunders would have made it to the round of 16. Back in Russia, where expectations had grown to unreasonably high proportions, that failure and a subsequent poor Euro 2016 qualifying campaign to date, has seen his popularity wane with the public and his paymasters.
Asked whether the six-month wage delay is a deliberate attempt to force him out he said: “You have to ask the people who run the union and football in the country. It’s not a question for me. Russia will organise the 2018 World Cup, and it is not paying its manager. This is not good for Russia’s image around the world.”
The danger for Russia is that this image really isn’t good for the next World Cup hosts – not that the Russians seem to care too much about image. But building a reputation as reluctant or non-payers – something this website has had experience of recently with Russian partners – will not help build trust or confidence at a time when the Russians could probably do with more friends in the international football world than fewer.
Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko, who is believed to be the main force behind the appointment of Capello (rather than the RFU) has said Russia will not give up on its coach but also that the government not pay his wages. He did indicate that he expected them to be paid by the end of the year,
But Capello is not the only one unpaid. In September TASS reported that the RFU owed money to 22 other national team staff members, in addition to Capello. As a result, some of Capello’s backroom staff, mainly Italians, were forced to walk out and seek new employment back home.
So where’s the money in a country that seems to have no problem funding new stadia and infrastructure? The head of the RFU, Nikolai Tolstykh, has said that it does not have the funds to remunerate the coach, and the union officially apologised in September for not paying him. Non payment of wages is a crime in Russia, usually.
And what next for Capello and Russia? Yevgeny Lovchev, a former Soviet defender who ran for president of the RFU in 2012, told the Moscow Times: “Capello had already proven that he was a capable coach. But a track record is not enough to select a trainer. There are other factors that need to be considered, including how suited to the team his style is. Many things were overlooked when he was hired.”
But, he said, “no coach – whether Capello or anybody else – can turn this squad into a championship-winning team.”
Capello says patience is the key to developing Russian football. “I think you need to wait,” Capello said. “Look at Belgium. They were a really good team 30 or 35 years ago, I remember. After that, nothing. And suddenly, they have become good again because they found five or six good players. I hope – for me and for Russia – that we will also find new good players.”
So the wait is on and much of Capello’s patience looks like it will be needed. What will come first? World beating Russian players or Capello’s wages?
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1734962884labto1734962884ofdlr1734962884owedi1734962884sni@n1734962884osloh1734962884cin.l1734962884uap1734962884