Former head coach of Arsenal Tula, Sergei Kiryakov, spoke candidly about the structure of the Russian Premier League and the considerations that would shape any potential expansion. In a recent interview focused on betting legality and league planning, he suggested that sixteen teams would be the most suitable configuration for the top tier under current conditions. He stressed that any change must be grounded in careful, ongoing assessment rather than a fixed timetable, emphasizing the need to monitor the broader football ecosystem before altering the league’s size.
According to Kiryakov, expansion should be contingent on demonstrable readiness across multiple dimensions. He argued that the league’s future should depend on watching and evaluating performances in the first division and judging whether teams show the quality and stability required to compete at the highest level. Only when those teams prove their merit and the financial and infrastructural foundations are solid should a larger format be considered. In his view, the present optimal number remains sixteen, but he acknowledged that time could shift that balance if new clubs consistently meet rigorous standards and the football economy strengthens accordingly.
During the current season, Krasnodar has led the standings as the winter break began, amassing thirty-eight points over eighteen rounds and holding a slim advantage over Zenit, who trailed by two points. Dinamo Moscow sat in third place with thirty-two points, rounding out the top tier positions in the early phase of the campaign. These results reflect the competitive depth of the league and provide context for any discussions about expansion, since the financial health of the clubs and the distribution of top-tier resources are central to sustaining more teams at the highest level.
Meanwhile, transfer news also influenced the landscape, with reports indicating that a CSKA forward, Fedor Chalov, was set to move abroad to Turkey. Such moves underscore the ongoing interleague dynamics and the evolving market for top talents, factors that can affect the feasibility and attractiveness of adding more teams to the Russian Premier League. The overall momentum of the league hinges on how clubs manage talent, sponsorship, stadium modernization, and youth development, all of which feed into decisions about growth and long-term viability.