Russian Football Union RFU

The activities of the RFU are aimed at the development and popularization of football in the Russian Federation. The main task of the RFU is the development and popularization of football in the Russian Federation, increasing its role in the comprehensive and harmonious development of the person, strengthening the health of the population, and the formation of a healthy lifestyle. Another, no less important task is to improve the training system for highly qualified athletes, to ensure the successful performance of Russian national teams and club teams in international competitions. The development and strengthening of international sports ties with national football federations of foreign countries, confederations, FIFA and UEFA is also one of the main tasks of the RFU. And, finally, the task of the RFU is to ensure social protection of the rights and interests of athletes, coaches and other specialists, and take care of football veterans.

Clubs

In total, as of April 2019, there are 95 professional football clubs in Russia in 53 regions.

• 1. Moscow - 11 clubs,

• 2. Krasnodar Territory - 8,

• 3. Moscow region - 7.

Number of professional football clubs in the regions of Russia

Performance indicators

2023: Revenue growth by a third to 7.2 billion rubles

At the end of 2023, the Russian Football Union (RFU) received 7.2 billion rubles in revenue. This is about a third more than the result for the previous year, as stated in the materials released in early June 2024.

According to Ivan Peronko, Chairman of the RFU Control and Audit Commission, for the second year in a row, the RFU receives a net profit. In 2023, it amounted to approximately 1.2 billion rubles. At the same time, the revenue and expenditure parts of the budget corresponded to the estimates. According to Peronko, the values ​ ​ of the foreign exchange balance and net assets remained at a fairly high level and at the end of 2023 amounted to 8.8 billion rubles and 6.8 billion rubles, respectively.

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Such results became possible not only thanks to work with sponsors and partners, but also due to effective and operational actions of the RFU. All competitions and events were held within the framework of the approved budget, regulations and development programs of the RFU, "Peronko emphasized.

At the same time, the President of the RFU Alexander Dyukov spoke about the activities of the organization in 2023. We are talking, in particular, about digitalization. The RFU continues to develop a digital platform that contains data on football players, coaches, infrastructure and competitions. One of the key achievements was the introduction of a system of mass football and licensing of clubs: it made it possible to translate the interaction process from paper to fully electronic format. Since the beginning of the introduction of the digital platform, 16 different modules have been created and used (as of the end of 2023). 8 interregional associations, 83 regional federations, 644 clubs and football schools are connected to the platform. It is planned to integrate with GIS "Sport," including for the purpose of forming accurate statistics in terms of regularly playing football.^[1]

2022: Profit - 1.3 billion rubles

In 2022, the Russian Football Union (RFU) received a net profit of 1.3 billion rubles, which is less than a year ago (3.3 billion rubles) before sanctions from the International Football Federation (FIFA) and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). The revenue of the RFU in 2022 reached 5.4 billion rubles.

The risks did not have a significant impact on the continuity of the organization's activities, despite the continuing pressure from external factors, the RFU demonstrates a stable position and operational financial indicators. It is important to note that the value of the balance sheet currency and net assets remained at a high level and amounted to at the end of 2022: the balance sheet currency - 8.4 billion rubles, and net assets - 6.5 billion rubles, - said Ivan Peronko, chairman of the RFU control and audit commission, president of the Krasnodar Territory Football Federation.

RFU received a net profit of 1.3 billion rubles

According to him, according to the results of operating activities in 2022, a budget surplus was obtained. Revenue and expenditure amounted to over 9 billion rubles, which ensured the possibility of implementing projects within the framework of the strategic goals of the organization. Such results are possible thanks to work with sponsors and partners, as well as due to the active actions of the RFU leadership, he added.

In February 2022, FIFA and UEFA published a joint statement according to which Russian national teams and clubs were suspended from participating in competitions for an indefinite period due to the military special operation of the Russian Federation in Ukraine. In mid-July 2022, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) rejected the appeals of Russian clubs and the RFU against this decision.^[2]

2021: Revenue growth by 2.5 billion rubles

In 2021, the Russian Football Union (RFU) earned 9.5 billion rubles, which is 2.5 billion rubles more than a year earlier. The president of the organization, Alexander Dyukov, released such data in mid-December 2021.

According to him, the revenue part of the RFU budget has been steadily increasing over the past three years, despite the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

As for the budget, for three years, despite the pandemic, we managed to annually increase our revenue share, revenues to the Russian Football Union. The funds are needed in order, first of all, to invest in mass football and the preparation of a sports reserve, - said Dyukov (quoted by Interfax), adding that 2021 was successful for the RFU in terms of funds.

Revenues of the Russian Football Union for the year increased by 2.5 billion rubles

Earlier, the RFU planned to receive about 4.5 billion rubles from commercial activities by the end of 2021 and send it to the implementation of reforms and development programs.

In September 2021, the head of the marketing committee and vice-president of the Russian Football Union (RFU), Denis Solovyov, said that it was possible to increase the potential revenues of the Russian Premier League (RPL), including money from the sale of rights to broadcast matches. At that time, the RPL accumulated more than 2.5 billion rubles of income and estimated the income potential at 8 billion rubles. This amount includes 4-4.5 billion rubles from the sale of media rights (depending on production costs) and 3 billion rubles the value of the title, commercial rights by category and the betting sponsor.

In July 2021, the RFU presented four options for reforming the Russian football system, which were developed with the participation of the Dutch company Hypercube, which, according to statistics, led to an increase in match attendance and an increase in competition in the Belgian and Dutch championships.^[3]

History

2024: CFO killed in helicopter crash in Kamchatka

The financial director of the Russian Football Union (RFU) Arseniy Zamyatin tragically died in the crash of the Mi-8T helicopter in Kamchatka. The crash occurred on August 31, 2024, at the time of the crash, there were 22 people on board the aircraft, including Zamyatin's wife. All passengers, including crew members, were killed. Read more here.

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