Torpedo Moscow on brink of financial collapse

Valeriy-Petrakov

FC Torpedo Moscow's head coach Valeriy Petrakov. (Epsilon/Getty)

MOSCOW — Torpedo Moscow is on the brink of collapse after withdrawing from the Russian league because of financial problems.

Torpedo, a three-time champion in the Soviet era and winner of the Russian Cup, was relegated from the Russian Premier League last season and has not applied for a place in the second tier.

Long-running financial struggles meant the club’s players went unpaid for much of last season.

Torpedo was not listed in a fixture list published on Tuesday for the second tier, and may leave professional football altogether.

The club’s debt is up to 230 million rubles ($4 million), club president Alexander Tukmanov told Tass.

Torpedo was relegated to the amateur leagues due to financial problems in 2008 before climbing back up the divisions.

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