Vladimir Ponomarev, a former CSKA Moscow player, discussed the rising salaries in Russian football. His remarks were reported by RIA News.
He noted that while players once faced modest compensation, the current salaries have grown sharply. Even though players continue to invest effort and sacrifice their health, Ponomarev suggested the risk-to-reward balance of the sport has shifted. He recalled that during his era, military personnel were paid fairly with standardized wages, and while the main squad earned 180 rubles and the reserves 140 rubles, stars reportedly received an additional 120 rubles. These figures illustrate a different era of football economics compared with today. (RIA News)
In spring 2022, football governing bodies took decisive action when the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) suspended Russia from all their sanctioned competitions. The decision halted Russian clubs from participating in European tournaments, and the national team faced a comprehensive ban from FIFA events as well. (RIA News)
As a result, Russian clubs, aside from Zenit, did not play any matches in European cups in 2022. Zenit St. Petersburg advanced no further than the 1/16 finals of the Europa League that season, losing 2:3 on aggregate to Real Betis of Spain. Meanwhile, Spartak Moscow progressed to the group stage and then faced RB Leipzig in playoff rounds, after advancing through the group stage. These outcomes underscored the significant disruption to Russian club competition in Europe during that period. (RIA News)
Earlier, Stanislav Cherchesov spoke about the needs and direction of the clubs he helped shape, emphasizing the broader implications for future squad development and strategic planning in Russian football. (RIA News)