By David Gold
May 2 – Leading Russian players have criticised the state of football pitches in the country according to evidence published by the world players’ union FIFPro.
“The quality of the pitches in Russia is disgraceful,” former Torpedo Moscow player Vladimir Leonchenko, a member of FIFPro’s Technical Committee, was quoted as saying.
“There is enough money.
“We are talking here about clubs with budgets of €70-80 million (£57-£93 million/$65-$106 million).
“But there is simply no willingness and also no knowledge to invest in the pitches.
“This is very bad for the image of Russian football.”
The state of pitches has been a key topic of debate in Russia of late, with the surface of Krylya Sovetov coming under fire this season when the Samara based team played Moscow rivals Dynamo and CSKA.
Rubin Kazan were also criticised after their game with Lokomotiv Moscow earlier this season.
The Russian Football Union (RFU) chief Sergei Fursenko has also threatened that they will close the stadiums of those clubs who do not look after their pitches.
Leonchenko has suggested playing games only in the south or on the artificial pitch at the Luzhniki Stadium from when the Russian Premier League season resumes each March.
However, one of the most northern most teams in the country, champions Zenit St Petersburg, have staged Champions League games this calendar year during the harsh Russian winter on a proper playing surface.
Anecdotal testimonies from Anzhi Makhachkala stars Samuel Eto’o and Vladimir Gabulov have also added weight to the FIFPro criticism.
In the case of former Inter Milan and Barcelona forward Eto’o, he has even said pitches he played on in his native Cameroon as a child were better than some of those in Russia.
Zenit’s Russian international Roman Shirokov even went so far as to suggest that one pitch was more fit for chickens and goats than professional football.
Contact the writer of this story at zib.l1734835627labto1734835627ofdlr1734835627owedi1734835627sni@d1734835627log.d1734835627ivad1734835627
Related stories
April 2012: New schedule is a circus killing Russian football says angry midfield star Semshov
March 2012: Russian Football Union boss threatens to close unkempt stadiums
June 2011: Exclusive – Russian league aims to double revenues within two years, says Cheban