Valery Masalitin, a former forward for CSKA and Spartak, has voiced support for expanding the Russian Premier League (RPL) to 18 clubs. In his view, the current legal betting framework should be leveraged to back this change, and he believes legislative hurdles can be overcome with relative ease.
“We should bring forward the proposal to safeguard all 16 teams currently in the RPL and add two clubs from the First League to reach 18. If the sporting principle is to be preserved, the 15th and 16th teams from the First League would be placed in a promotion-like frame, with 3rd and 4th placed teams from the First League entering play-offs to determine the final spots. Support for the teams is essential, and the issue must be put on the agenda,” Masalitin stated.
Masalitin noted that the gap in quality among RPL clubs has narrowed, prompting him to advocate for examining the expansion at the next executive committee meeting of the Russian Football Union (RFU). He argued that this move would contribute to Russia’s football development and expressed confidence that many RFU board members would back the idea.
Under the current regulations, 16 teams participate in the RPL. At the season’s end, the 15th and 16th teams face relegation to the First League, while the 13th and 14th teams enter promotion play-offs against the third and fourth placed First League clubs.
In related news, Spartak has been linked with Championship plans under the guidance of a new coach, stirring discussion about the club’s direction and competitive strategy.