"There's no more money": The professional football club "Irkutsk" has closed in Irkutsk.
In Irkutsk, the professional football club "Irkutsk" has ceased to exist. The problems arose due to a lack of funding and accumulated debt.
Reasons for the closure and the team's position
The players and team management tried to salvage the situation until the very last moment. However, they were unable to overcome the financial crisis.
The team believed until the end and fought for a positive solution to the issue of financing the club, but the current realities, unfortunately, did not allow this to come true.
The team's general sponsor was Serviko, the region's largest logistics company. Having suspended its support for the club, it also stopped sponsoring other major sporting events in the region. Serviko has not disclosed the reasons for its termination.
However, the footballers' financial problems began back in the spring. For example, local rapper Obladaet paid for one of the athletes' away matches.
Football crisis in Russian regions
Previously, the authorities advised businesses to tighten their belts, cut costs, and economize due to the difficult economic situation. Furthermore, at a meeting with business representatives, Vladimir Putin called for "voluntary contributions to the war."
As a result, Irkutsk is far from the first football club in the country to close since the war began. Specifically, FC Chita closed in the spring, the women's football club Donchanka from Rostov-on-Don ceased operations, the mini-football club Ukhta from Komi suspended its play in June of this year, and the club Forte from Taganrog was liquidated in the summer of 2025.
Photo: FC Irkutsk Telegram channel
