Theft probe hits Russian football ahead of World Cup
MOSCOW: Russia’s World Cup preparations have been hit by an embezzlement probe involving the tournament’s anti-discrimination chief Alexei Smertin.
Moscow’s RBK business news site reported today that the interior ministry was looking into a complaint filed by Premier League club Dynamo Moscow against its previous leadership.
Dynamo believe at least 1.6 million euros ($2 million) were transferred from the club to shell companies linked to former general director Yevgeny Muravyov.
The money was paid under suspicious contracts signed by Smertin, who is also the team’s executive director.
Smertin serves as the World Cup’s anti-racism inspector and is the go-to official in cases of player or fan abuse.
The 42-year-old was the national team captain in 200405 and joined Dynamo’s management in 2013.
RBK said Smertin’s signature also appeared on other dubious financial records unearthed during an audit.
The Izvestia daily had previously quoted a source at Dynamo saying Smertin himself was not suspected of benefiting from the scheme.
Smertin “is not being accused of unscrupulousness”, the source said.
“At the same time, a number of executives believe that he could have approached the documents he was signing more judiciously.” Dynamo chairman Vladimir Strzhalkovsky told RBK that Smertin “was firmly told to sign” the contracts by the former general director. PARIS: Brazilian superstar Neymar is expected back in Paris a month before the World Cup begins in Russia, French media reported on Sunday.
Paris Saint-germain forward Neymar has been recovering in his homeland since undergoing surgery on a broken bone in his foot on March 3.
He had been injured playing for PSG in a league match against Marseille on February 25, just before a crucial Champions League last 16 second-leg clash with Real Madrid.
French newspaper L’equipe said he will return to Paris in “mid-may at the latest” to take part in PSG’S end of season celebrations. RMC radio, though, said he would be back in “early May” to complete his rehabilitation in Paris alongside his two physiotherapists. His injury sparked a club-versus-country tug-of-war as PSG wanted to try to get Neymar fit in TIME.AGENCIES MANCHESTER: Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City must secure more Premier League titles to earn the respect necessary to win the Champions League following their tame exit from Europe’s leading club competition.
City collected their third Premier League title in seven years last weekend, with a number of all-time domestic records still within their reach ahead of Sunday’s match at home to Swansea.
But that magnificent league form contrasted with the Champions League, in which City were emphatically beaten 5-1 on aggregate by rivals Liverpool in the quarter-finals, and their manager insisted his club was still some way from being able to compete for that prize.
“I realised this season how difficult it will be to win the Champions League,” said Guardiola, who lifted the European Cup as both a player and manager at Barcelona.
“May be, I am wrong but before you win the Champions League as a club you have to win more Premier Leagues in a row first, to get respect in Europe that you are a top club. If you don’t, I realise this season it will be so complicated.”
He added: “Of course we are going to try but I don’t know if we are like a club to have the power on an off the pitch to achieve and to get there. So I would prefer, like this season, to be solid in the Premier League.
“The Premier League is the priority next season, absolutely. I will sign up right now if we can do what we did this season again next season. Right now. To win the Premier League together is the most important title.” ‘Constant’ Guardiola declined to expand upon precisely how a lack of respect cost his club in Europe this season although, at the time, the City manager was vocal about what he believed were poor refereeing decisions in the Liverpool defeats.
However, at both Barcelona and Bayern Munich the Catalan followed his first league title by winning two more in succession and he insists domestic superiority remains the priority.
“When I came here the chairman and sporting director never said ‘You have to win the Champions League’ or ‘You have to win the League,’” said Guardiola.