FC Neman players ready for a strike

Players of a Hrodna-based football club wanted to delay the beginning of a match against FC Minsk as a sign of protest.

Neman (Hrodna) was yesterday defeated by Minsk (2-4) in the home match of the 24th round of the Belarusian Premier League. Neman's coach told a press conference after the game that the club's director and he had to persuade the players to start the game, Blog Hrodna writes.

“Before the match, I talked not about aspects of the game, I asked my players to start the game and not to delay the match,” he said. “The club has problems in all areas. The team has not been receiving their contract salary for six months and budget salary for three months. It's only one of the problems. There are no minor things in football!

As for the match, we created three goal chances to each chance of the opponent. Bus sometimes something goes wrong. We have an opportunity to test new combinations. So, I hope we'll have some progress. Financial problems are not good excuses for the team. Players should not do on the field what some of them were doing today. The excuse 'no money, no game' is not a good one.”

The club staff confirmed the words of the coach in an informal conversation. Players received wages three months ago. The club owes hotels, cafes and other agencies that provide services to the club. Fuel to get to an away match is bought at the expense of the staff.

One of the players also confirms the words of the coach.

“I received only 20 million for the last five months,” he said. “The director promised to pay a part of the debt for the promise not to delay the game. But we have been hearing these promises for a long time. If no payments are made, the players will delay the next game to 15 minutes. We are ready not to begin the match after the next match.”

The situation looks sad. The club owes wages since the last season. The players have not received bonuses for the last season yet. Ivan Sadovnichiy left the club in summer. The money from the transfer was spent on paying the debts.