Former Russian football champion team Alania Vladikavkaz appeared on the brink of financial collapse on Monday after coach Vladimir Gazzaev admitted that the organization lacked even the funds to travel to its next match.
Alania won the 1995 Russian title and made regular appearances in the Champions League and UEFA Cup throughout the 1990s, but has endured crises on and off the pitch in recent years. After relegation from the Russian Premier League last season, the team has been battling to return to the top flight.
Alania's players have gone unpaid for several months, and their next match puts particular strain on the team's budget because it involves a journey across seven time zones to Russia's Far East for a meeting with Luch-Energia Vladivostok.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
