The well-known Russian club, which recently got into European competition, is now going through difficult times. The team is close to collapse and may withdraw from the championship. The “citizens” do not even have enough money for the road – they have to borrow it from volleyball players.

Russia will lose another football brand?

Endure until the end of the season

The financial difficulties of Ufa, perhaps, are not a big secret. The club, which regularly supplied the Premier League with good players, helped to hone the coaching skills of Sergei Semak, played with some success in the qualification of the Europa League, is close to moving from the best league in the world to the heavenly league.

In this situation, remembering the talk about a possible transition under the wing of the Red Bull company is probably painful for the fans. To cope with the obligations in the current season and acquire at least some financial guarantees – this is the actual goal for Ufa residents.

The first problems appeared last season, when the team from the capital of Bashkiria was fighting for survival in the Premier League. It was not possible to remain in the elite of Ufa. According to rumors, the team could collapse down two steps at once, sliding into the Second League … Fortunately, the Ufa team nevertheless showed up in the First League and even retained some of the leaders in the composition.

Photo: © FC Ufa

The team started the season with varying success in new realities, settling in the middle part of the standings. But rumors of an impending disaster continued to haunt the public. Insiders began to appear about Ufa’s plans to withdraw from the championship.

The general director of the club, Shamil Gazizov, confirmed the existence of difficulties, but still tried to avoid panic, stating that the leadership of the region was aware of the problems. The manager hoped that he would be able to endure until the end of the season … But there are doubts about this.

From whom did Gazizov borrow money?

There is still a lot of time until the end of the season, so Gazizov’s optimism is somewhat surprising, especially since sponsors for Ufa are not in line. And even the leadership of the republic, which has the power to somehow improve the situation, does not guarantee funding. Stretching the season with money from the sale of Hamid Agalarov is problematic even in the First League. But what to say about the whole season – there is not enough money to organize a trip here and now! You have to borrow from the volleyball club.

– Help from the Ural volleyball club for the away match with Shinnik? We asked for help. However, I would not like to advertise. All the same, there are questions for both the volleyball club and us. This is not usually done. “Ufa” literally borrowed money, – Gazizov told the correspondent of the “Championship”.

It is curious that in the leadership of the “Ural” that someone borrowed money from them, no one admits. At least the president of the volleyball club, Valery Bagmetov, was surprised by the question about financial interaction with Ufa:

— I do not know such information. I heard that Ufa plays away, but I don’t even know where. Gazizov and I don’t communicate much, we just say hello sometimes. We haven’t been given any money yet. – said Bagmetov “Match TV”.

The situation, of course, is ridiculous and even a little comical. Either Gazizov did not understand from whom the club borrowed money, or some financial manipulations are taking place behind the back of the president of Ural, since he was not in the know. Or maybe the leaders simply did not agree on a single version of events that journalists were not supposed to know about. But if Ufa is really forced to resort to loans for a trip to Yaroslavl, this is a very bad sign for the fans of the team. Survive until the end of the season will be a miracle.