Football CSKA came under US sanctions, as did 24 other VEB subsidiaries.

The new lists were published by the US Treasury Department in connection with Russia's recognition of the independence of the Donbass republics.

The team is preparing for the resumption of the season as usual.

However, according to the general director of the army team Roman Babaev, the news was quite unexpected for the club. 

“The players are calmly preparing for the resumption of the season and Saturday's derby, and our lawyers understand the situation.

We will defend our rights, based on the generally accepted thesis that sport should be outside of politics, ”the Sport-Express functionary quotes.

According to experts, while CSKA should not have serious problems.

Sports lawyer Ilya Chicherov explained this by the fact that the army team receives money from abroad, mainly from UEFA or for transfers.

“As far as I understand, the club is not strongly associated with the US Treasury.

The club plays in Russia, possibly in Europe will perform.

The options from where CSKA can receive money from abroad are prize money from UEFA, prize money for entering European competitions, transfer payments.

And UEFA, I think, is also not particularly connected with the US Treasury, ”quotes the Gazeta.Ru specialist.

I agree with Chicherov and the former Deputy Minister of Finance of the Russian Federation Sergey Aleksashenko.

In an interview with Sport24, he drew attention to the fact that the imposed sanctions do not affect the eurozone, payments in euros and Swiss francs. 

At the same time, it should be noted that CSKA is not the first Russian football club to fall under US sanctions.

Akhmat has been in this situation for a year and a half: the Adidas equipment had to be replaced with Macron, the Grozny residents were forbidden to use the American Huddle software, so the coaching staff and the selection department switched to the Russian InStat.

Akhmat was also disconnected from the SWIFT banking system, which complicated financial transactions.

Similar problems may appear in the army.

Moreover, as explained by the former executive director of Lokomotiv, economist Alexei Kirichek, difficulties may arise, including in transactions that were made earlier. 

“The same transfer of Vlašić to West Ham – payments for the Croatian are probably broken down by periods.

A Czech businessman became a shareholder of the London club.

He may well have businesses in the United States, which may lead to difficulties in making payments for a football player.

Now there will be a transitional period.

It will be necessary to decide what to do and how to be.

The club capitalized the stadium.

Debts to the bank were converted into capital.

The bank completely became the owner of CSKA.

This is a complicated story, ”the Championship specialist quotes.

According to economists, it makes sense for CSKA to think now how to get out of the sanctions list.

Since the European Union and the United Kingdom may take similar measures after the United States, which will be a more serious problem.

According to Aleksashenko, in this case, European clubs may refuse to deal with CSKA for the purchase and sale of football players.

In this case, the problem can be solved by changing the owner.

If VEB sells the shares of CSKA that it owns, then sanctions will be lifted from the club under certain conditions. 

The State Duma, in turn, promised to support the army if necessary.

Dmitry Svishchev, Chairman of the Sports and Physical Culture Committee, stressed that a football club is an integral part of the Russian system.

“This is the cell of our society.

Any athlete is part of our system.

This is a huge number of fans, stadiums, academy.

This is the structure of the state.

We do not give offense to ours.

So, if the club has problems, the state will fit in and provide comprehensive support.

Moreover, we already have experience with Akhmat, ”said the RB-Sport official.