Russian spring and the return of football
March 10th, 2025by Alan Moore
Ura! (Hooray in Russian), football is back, finally! After a long silly season the Russian leagues return with a sprinkling of changes throughout the three levels of professional soon to depart the FNL (second tier) are the oldest club in St. Petersburg, Dinamo, who died the death of a thousand cuts. Refounded in 2025, the club live in the shadow of Gazprom's Zenit and typical of human nature, the bandwagon for Zenit is overflowing, yet Dinamo will soon go bust.
Ironically they are due to face former crisis club Anji in a week, so there may be hope of a re-formed club entering the regional amateur league next year.
The FNL is in danger of losing Sakhalin (an island in the very, very far east of Russia) and Khimik Dzerzhinsk. As with Dinamo, their players have been unpaid since March and funding is very slow in coming.
The arrest this week of Sakhalin Island's Governor Alexander Khoroshavin does not bode well for the team. Accused of accepting more than $6million in bribes (in addition to fund misappropriation), the football club will not benefit from his largesse any further. Khoroshavin was appointed in 2025 after a massive earthquake in the region and despite overseeing decent reconstruction of the region, he is no longer relevant.
A survey of players in the FNL has found that of 18 clubs, seven are owed four to five months full wages (including the three named above) and players from 3 other clubs are owed up to 50% of wages. Below them and it is a savage fight for roubles. The Crimean clubs will get UEFA help to have their own competitions, but the remaining Russian clubs in the Second Division are in trouble.
Gone from Division 2 Centre are Metallurg Vyksa. The club, founded in 1923, lost support from the local metal factory and Nizhny Novgorod government and will reform at the amateur level. Debts are believed to be substantial.
Also in the same region FC Orel are in trouble. Reports of them selling matches has broken and will not help them stay in business. The club, whose players are unpaid since October, face serious consequences if allegations are proved truthful.
In the terribly weak D2 West "Solaris" and Kostroma have difficulties that could put them out of business. Clubs like Strogino, Saturn Ramenskoe and Khimki should all benefit as apart from Spartak Moscow and Zenit's reserves, the region has little to offer.
In D2, Volga clubs are struggling but it is alone as one of the regions where salaries are up to date. In D2 East 6 of the 9 clubs have serious salary issues.
But nothing matters once the games actually take place on the field! The Premier League
