Chelsea reject Roman's Russian bonuses - Sport - Evening Standard
       

Chelsea reject Roman's Russian bonuses

Chelsea have rejected suggestions that the club's billionaire owner Roman Abramovich had offered Russia's players £40,000-a-man to beat England.

Abramovich was accused of funding the bonus plan through the National Football Academy along with the Russian Football Union.

It was alleged that £15,000-per-man was being paid for by the Russian Football Union while the remaining sum would be guaranteed by the Abramovich-backed Academy.

But Chelsea insist the Russian owner has never offered his national side any financial incentive to beat England in their Euro 2008 qualifier at Wembley.

A Chelsea statement, posted on the club's official website, said: "Contrary to media reports this morning in Russia and Britain, Chelsea would like to clarify that Roman Abramovich has never offered, proposed or promised any bonuses to the Russian team to beat England.

"The financial backing Mr Abramovich gives to Russian football, via his National Academy of Football foundation, is for the development of the game as a whole and is not focused on specific matches.

"Mr Abramovich supports grassroots football initiatives through such efforts as building football pitches, helping to organise youth sports academies and providing training for coaches."

Comments

Don't Miss
Victoria Coren: My obsession with children, five proposals a week and why David and I are no power couple

Victoria Coren

David Mitchell and I are no power couple
The Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition preview party

Summer party

Stars at the The Royal Academy of Arts
London gets ready for the Diamond Jubilee - in pictures

Diamond Jubilee

London gets ready - in pictures
The Glamour Awards - stars turn on the style

Glamour Awards

Stars turn on the style
Duchess of Cambridge is pretty in pink at her first Buckingham Palace garden party

Garden party

Duchess of Cambridge is pretty in pink
FIRST review of Ridley Scott's latest sci-fi blockbuster Prometheus

First review

Is Ridley Scott's Prometheus any good?
Fair-weather goths

Fair-weather goths

The sultry shades of summer darks are coming out of the shadows
Dog save the Queen: Corgis surge in popularity

Dog save the Queen

Corgis surge in popularity
'He’s a better ex than he was a husband', says Boris Johnson's ex wife

A better ex than husband

We talk to Boris Johnson's ex wife
TV Baftas - in pictures

Best of the Baftas

Stars on the red, white and blue carpet