Abramovich Said To Be Offering Russian Players Bonuses
A Russian newspaper claims that Roman Abramovich is offering each player in the national team a £40,000 bonus to beat England at Wembley tonight, although a spokesman for the Chelsea owner has denied this.
The teams lying second and third behind Croatia in Euro 2008 qualifying Group E - Russia and England - go head-to-head tonight at Wembley for three vital points. And a Russian paper claims that Roman Abramovich will pay Guus Hiddink's players almost £1million in bonuses to beat England.
However, despite the reported £40,000-a-man bonus offer, Russian striker Alexander Kerzhakov says that the pride in winning is important to the players than the cash.
Kerzhakov, the 24-year-old Sevilla star, said: “In this situation, the money being offered makes no difference to me.
"I play for the colours of the Russian flag and not for bank notes.”
Ironically, Abramovich's Chelsea stars in the England team - captain John Terry, Joe Cole, Ashley Cole and Shaun Wright-Phillips - will be playing for free after agreeing to donate their match fees to charity.
Although a spokesman for Abramovich insisted that the claims were false, a Russian FA source was reported in the Russian media as saying: “Mr Abramovich may spend a lot of time in England but he has not forgotten his roots and he wants to see a victory over England, like every patriotic Russian.
“As a main sponsor of the team he has set aside a significant sum for the expedition to England, including accommodating the team at a luxurious hotel.”
goal.com
A Russian newspaper claims that Roman Abramovich is offering each player in the national team a £40,000 bonus to beat England at Wembley tonight, although a spokesman for the Chelsea owner has denied this.
The teams lying second and third behind Croatia in Euro 2008 qualifying Group E - Russia and England - go head-to-head tonight at Wembley for three vital points. And a Russian paper claims that Roman Abramovich will pay Guus Hiddink's players almost £1million in bonuses to beat England.
However, despite the reported £40,000-a-man bonus offer, Russian striker Alexander Kerzhakov says that the pride in winning is important to the players than the cash.
Kerzhakov, the 24-year-old Sevilla star, said: “In this situation, the money being offered makes no difference to me.
"I play for the colours of the Russian flag and not for bank notes.”
Ironically, Abramovich's Chelsea stars in the England team - captain John Terry, Joe Cole, Ashley Cole and Shaun Wright-Phillips - will be playing for free after agreeing to donate their match fees to charity.
Although a spokesman for Abramovich insisted that the claims were false, a Russian FA source was reported in the Russian media as saying: “Mr Abramovich may spend a lot of time in England but he has not forgotten his roots and he wants to see a victory over England, like every patriotic Russian.
“As a main sponsor of the team he has set aside a significant sum for the expedition to England, including accommodating the team at a luxurious hotel.”
goal.com
