Roman Abramovich has stopped funding of Russian football and closed "The National Academy of Football" Foundation. The business won't sponsor the 2018 World Cup, and "Gazprom" will oversee the development of football in the country.

"This is the reality of the fund" National Football Academy ", which carried out its tasks - built about 140 football fields, upgraded Football Academy named after Yuri Konoplev, operating now under the patronage of the government of the Samara region. In short, all the goals have been achieved, "- said the representative of the ITAR-TASS news agency controlled by Russian businessman company Millhouse, John Mann. He did not answer the question of whether Roman Abramovich is planning to continue its cooperation with the Russian Football Union (RFU).

Earlier, a source close to the businessman said of Forbes, that Mr. Abramovich does not finance the preparations for the 2018 World Cup, and to oversee the development of football in the country will "Gazprom": "," Gazprom "has decided to take over the farm, the flag in their hands."

National Academy Foundation "football" was created in 2004 with the cspruce support of Russian football. Its budget amounted to about 1 billion rubles. per year, and all he spent $ 150-200 million. It is sponsored by IFA contract Guus Hiddink as head coach of the Russian national team. According to unofficial information, during its existence NAF spent on football in Russia about $ 200 million.