The president of the Russian Futsal Association (AMFR), Emil Aliyev, told that next season the Superleague will certainly increase to ten teams, but the participation of 12 clubs cannot be ruled out.
– Last season, nine teams started in the Super League, but Dynamo-Samara forfeited the draw. How many clubs will play the next Superleague season?
“There is a bit of a paradox here. Now the difficult situation in the world, and it seems that the clubs want to wait, but two clubs – St. Petersburg “Crystal” and Novosibirsk “Sibiryak” – decided to enter the Super League. Sibiryak returns to the Superleague, and Kristall is a new professional club, which we in the executive committee, according to financial criteria, allowed to enter the elite division, bypassing the Major League. Thus, ten clubs have already confirmed their participation in the next Superliga season.
Within a season, we expect LKS from Lipetsk and Fakel from Surgut to appear in the Superleague. And even next season we will compete for Rostov, who won bronze last season in the Major League.
– When will there be an exact understanding of the number of teams?
– Exactly ten, current Superleague clubs plus Sibiryak and Kristall have officially confirmed their participation. Only “Rostov” and “Fakel” are in negotiations and can join the number of Superleague participants. LKS from Lipetsk – definitely not. And we will know the exact number of Superleague teams by August 1.
I mean the clubs have a stable financial situation, despite all the situation in the world. The clubs have planned their budgets, we are in contact with each team, and we do not see any difficulties.
– Can you name the average budgets of Superleague teams?
– The minimum budget to enter the Super League and to compete in one way or another to enter the playoffs is 100 million rubles. It’s the bare minimum. The average Superleague budget is 150-200 million rubles. And the financial top is 200-400 million rubles. These are clubs that are able to make a better selection by inviting foreigners.
– Previously, the Premier League was decorated with the presence of Moscow “Spartak”, which again ceased to exist last season. Are there any prerequisites for a new brand revival?
– If we talk about Spartak, we also feel pain. Different people embrace this brand, but not everyone manages to keep this name afloat for at least a while. We trust because we want Spartak to decorate our Premier League. But time and time again, the club is deleted during the season. The brightest and most stable period for Spartak was the period when it was led by Evgeny Serafimovich Lovchev – then the team became champions of the country, played in European competitions. But now there is no information about the revival of Spartak. So far we don’t expect to see Spartak in the Premier League.
— And how many teams will perform in this division?
– We expect there will be 12 teams in the Western Conference, and 14-16 teams in the Eastern Conference. Let’s also remember the women’s championship – next season we expect to see eight teams. We strongly hope that the reform of combining the Western and Eastern conferences into one championship will allow us to retain the Eastern teams – Wiz-Sinara, Tyumen, Krasnaya Kama. In addition, the women’s team “Crystal” from St. Petersburg may appear.
– Last season you returned to the Russian Cup system with the Final Four. Nothing will change in the next draw?
– We have already approved all the regulations, and the Russian Cup will be held in the format with the Final Four. The place will be chosen after all the participants of the decisive stage are known. Of course, you have to take into account that there might not be much interest from spectators on neutral ground, although last season in Tyumen there was a full house at all matches.
– Is it possible for clubs from Crimea to enter the Russian championship?
– There is a ban, and we are guided by FIFA, UEFA and RFU circulars, which state that professional teams cannot participate in competitions. It is a special area.
– At the same time, in June, the AMFR accepts the Sevastopol federation into its structure.
– We have accepted them as an organization, our members, without violating any FIFA and UEFA circulars. Our Russian children live on the territory of Crimea, which should take part in our projects – Futsal for schools, Futsal for universities. These projects were supported by President Vladimir Putin and have been developing successfully for a decade and a half.
Source : MatchTV
