Amkar Forced to Withdraw from Russian Premier League

The Russian Premier League has seen its second casualty in less than a year after it was announced on Tuesday 21 that soccer side Amkar Perm had pulled out of the nation’s top flight due to financial difficulties. The Urals-based club will drop down to the second tier of Russian soccer, following FK Moscow who were forced to withdraw from the league earlier this year after their main financial backer, Norilsk, withdrew its support.

Amkar’s president, Valery Chuprakov confirmed his resignation on the club’s official website and released a statement revealing that he had written an official letter to the league to inform the body of Amkar’s decision.

“In light of the difficult financial situation, the club has voluntarily decided to play (in Russia’s second division),” Chuprakov stated on www.amkar.org. “As of today, the club has accumulated debts of 167 million roubles ($5.4 million) and negotiations with potential sponsors have not come to fruition.”