Alexander Dyukov, re-elected to the post of President of the RFU, held a press conference, during which he answered questions from journalists.

In particular, he commented on the information about the change in the format of the Russian Premier League (RPL), spoke about his attitude to the limit on foreign players and answered whether fans will be able to attend the matches of the national championship in the spring without restrictions.

The functionary also shared his opinion on the situation around Tambov and expressed his attitude to the possible tightening of the team licensing procedure.

On a possible change in the format of the RPL

- The RFU is responsible not only for national teams and professional football.

We have a significant area of ​​responsibility.

It includes mass, youth football, training of a sports reserve and more.

When the decision was made to create leagues, the goal was to delegate the authority to manage them to the competence of clubs - self-sufficient, serious organizations with financial and management resources.

If we talk about the role that the RFU should play in professional football, it is significant, but we restrict ourselves to a number of questions.

For example, judging, which we are reforming.

We also regulate the activities of clubs and leagues through licensing.

The third area is helping and supporting championships by creating training programs.

You must understand that clubs have a stake in leagues that are both sporting and commercially successful.

We are ready to help, but we are waiting for the initiative from them.

All proposals will be considered.

We have a vision and understanding of which format is relevant and correct in a particular championship.

About the limit for legionnaires in the "8 + 17" format

- This issue began to be discussed not two years ago, but much earlier.

The decision was made based on the results of the preparatory analytical work that was done a long time ago.

We came to the conclusion that eight legionnaires in the application are optimal.

I myself am an opponent of the limit, but we must be realistic and work within its framework.

The fact is that the training system of our sports reserve does not supply the required number of high quality footballers that the leagues need.

Thus, this regulation is necessary.

In addition, knowing the attitude of the Ministry of Sports to the issue of the limit, it is simply impossible to assume agreement with them to cancel it in football.

Unfortunately, now we cannot do without a limit.

I hope that after a while we will come to this.

This limit made the clubs look critically at the legionnaires in the squad, with some to part.

I will not say that this caused regret on my part.

The restriction gives coaches the opportunity not to keep passports in their heads, to take into account how many foreigners are on the bench and on the field.

Easier to control the game.

Another important criterion is that Russians get practice in positions that have historically been assigned to legionnaires.

For example, center backs.

There are no more protected roles.

About foreign coaches in RPL

- For me, the main criterion is the quality of the coach, how strong he is.

The passport is secondary.

We are interested in our school developing and Russian coaches working in Russian clubs.

But I don't see any problem.

In my opinion, our specialists are widely represented in the league, there is no dominance of foreigners.

Domenico Tedesco, Sandro Schwartz, Marko Nikolic ... Three specialists is not much.

On the possible withdrawal of "Tambov" from the Russian Championship

- Of course, not only we, but also the league are worried about Tambov.

There is a risk of violation of the sporting principle and the integrity of the tournament.

Let's hope that the team will be able to finish the season and will not withdraw from the championship.

As I said, the only way to solve the problem is to tighten licensing.

We are doing this gradually, but not everyone is ready for the new requirements yet.

The requirements can be tightened, but then the number of participants will be reduced to seven or eight.

This will reduce interest in football in the regions.

As such, our path is to gradually raise the bar, set tighter financial requirements and give time for clubs to prepare.

As of the beginning of the season, Tambov was ready to take part in the national championship.

There were appropriate assurances from the governor, ready to provide support.

Commitments were made to bring the stadium into compliance with the regulations.

Unfortunately, they have not been implemented.

Insufficient use of the Luzhniki stadium

- The RFU has the ability to play matches for the national team at Luzhniki.

As for the clubs, if they wish, they can play in this arena.

But all Moscow teams have stadiums.

This year, we faced the problem of the coronavirus, so we had to hold meetings without spectators.

Luzhniki is the best arena in the country, comfortable but expensive.

RFU could not afford to arrange games on it with empty stands.

When the fans return, we will play there.

Perhaps with the Croatian team.

Restrictions on attending matches

- In the spring, the number of citizens with immunity will grow.

But COVID-19 is one of the acute viral diseases.

Typically, these infections are seasonal.

On the other hand, this is a new, not fully understood disease.

The emergence of new strains, local outbreaks is possible.

Let's hope that if the third wave comes, it will happen in the fall.

Given the immunity, it is unlikely that it will do the same harm as at the beginning of the pandemic.

But in any case, now we can only make predictions.

Hopefully, we will be able to end the season with 50% of the stands.

If the positive dynamics continues, it is possible that the number of fans will increase.

I think that after some time we will come to a situation where there will be no restrictions, and the coronavirus will become one of the types of ARVI.

About vaccination

- We see that the epidemiological situation in the country is improving.

Immunity is also developed thanks to the vaccine.

I was vaccinated with Sputnik V back in September.

This made it possible to stimulate the required immune response.

It was rumored that after the vaccination, someone became infected, but as far as I know, even in this case, the disease proceeds in the form of mild ARVI.

As for the footballers, we cannot force them to be vaccinated.

The procedure is voluntary.

But I think this is important for the athletes themselves, for the national team, and for the fans.

Soon we have important matches that will affect whether we go to Qatar.

Missing the match by any candidate for the team complicates the task for both the coaching staff and the players.

We hope they understand the importance of vaccination and behave responsibly.

About the development of professional leagues

- RPL has achieved a lot over the past years.

She has changed.

It is enough to watch the recording of the video broadcast of the beginning of the 2000s and compare it with what we see now.

Progress is evident, but there is work to do.

This is the organization of the training process, and the choice of style, and compliance with modern trends in the development of football.

There is some potential for improving the efficiency of commerce and marketing.

I want to emphasize that the league consists of 16 independent, financially strong clubs.

Many have a higher budget than the RFU.

From the point of view of their managerial potential, sponsors, they are ready to be independently responsible for their own destiny.

All this will increase competitiveness in the championship.

In FNL and PFL the situation is different.

There is no such financial resource, in comparison with RPL there are fewer management opportunities.

But we are ready to help.

For example, if Alexander Alaev wins the election to the post of head of the FNL, then we will take on the task of giving the league a new impetus, since it is very important for our football.

About the idea of ​​creating the Super League

“I have as much information as you do.

It is difficult to comment, since there are no reliable facts, it is not clear how serious the plans of the participants are.

As far as I know, not all clubs support the idea.

And without them, the Superleague is impossible.

The initiators of the creation of the tournament can be understood, since in the short term it will increase income.

But in the long term, it will bring negative consequences for European football, for its development.

I hope that the idea will not be realized in the form that they are talking about now.

About the Beach Soccer World Cup

- We are preparing for its holding.

No new notifications have been received from FIFA.