Spring in Russian football

Jean-Michel De Marchi writes in the online publication Rue89 about the new patrons of Russian football: "Zenit Saint Petersburg's victory over the Glasgow Rangers in the UEFA Cup Finals on Wednesday is anything but a coincidence. For several years the quality of Russian football has been improving thanks to generous backers. Their millions swell the clubs' budgets and attract top players. ... Since the Russian energy giant Gazprom took over in December 2005, Zenit Saint Petersburg has entered a whole new league. The club has an estimated budget of 100 million euros, more than Olympique Marseille in France. This money enables the club to buy excellent foreign players, and allowed it to win the national championships last year for the first time. ... What pushes investors to put their money in Russian football? Is this a huge money laundering system? According to economist Wladimir Andreff, the answer is much simpler. For him, the sums now being invested have more to do with the country's social development and the growing number of new rich, who spend their money in sport."

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