In a significant step backwards for women's soccer in its quest for equality alongside the men, a cash-strapped Russian club have promised to play their next game in bikinis.
FC Rossiyanka from Krasnoarmeysk near Moscow are one of the top clubs in the Russian Women's Premier League, but they have struggled to attract fans during the recent economic downturn.
"Unfortunately, at the present time our sport doesn't have due attention from sports officials and state programs on development of sports.
"The aim of this project is to attract attention to women football and to increase the popularity of it among male population of our country.
"We need to break the stereotype of women football as a non-spectacular kind of sport."
She added: "In the whole world this sport is located on the first roles and is in rapid progress, largely due to government support and the help of national associations.
"The main is that our sportswomen understand and appreciate our ideas. Together we achieve the desired because Russian women football is bound to succeed!"
Unsurprisingly, their publicity shoot to promote the event is already receiving pretty good coverage on mainstream news networks in Russia.
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| FC Rossiyanka is hoping to draw the crowds by ditching their kit for bikinis Photo: Sergey Milovanov/fc-ross.ru |
FC Rossiyanka from Krasnoarmeysk near Moscow are one of the top clubs in the Russian Women's Premier League, but they have struggled to attract fans during the recent economic downturn.
"I think that our football players are beautiful and attractive women," the club's chief executive Svetlana Zhuravleva told fc-ross.ru. "They virtuously master the ball and do not yield to famous tennis player and gymnasts.
"Unfortunately, at the present time our sport doesn't have due attention from sports officials and state programs on development of sports.
"The aim of this project is to attract attention to women football and to increase the popularity of it among male population of our country.
"We need to break the stereotype of women football as a non-spectacular kind of sport."
She added: "In the whole world this sport is located on the first roles and is in rapid progress, largely due to government support and the help of national associations.
"The main is that our sportswomen understand and appreciate our ideas. Together we achieve the desired because Russian women football is bound to succeed!"
Unsurprisingly, their publicity shoot to promote the event is already receiving pretty good coverage on mainstream news networks in Russia.
Also see:
