The Khimki football club from the Moscow region has declared a halt to its operations, as stated in an official announcement on the team's website.
The club emphasized that it had exhausted all options to secure a spot in the upcoming Russian Premier League (RPL) season.
"Regrettably, these efforts fell short of the licensing requirements set by the Russian Football Union (RFU) and the RPL. Every member of our organization—players and staff alike—gave their utmost. Yet despite this commitment, we were excluded from professional tournaments. Given these conditions, suspending activities is an unavoidable but carefully considered decision," Khimki stated.
In late May, the RFU appeals committee confirmed the denial of the club's RPL license application, citing unmet financial criteria.
Nova-Europe previously covered Khimki's struggles in detail. Earlier this year, the RFU imposed external management on the club due to unpaid player wages, leading to the dismissal of Spanish coach Frank Artiga after he publicly criticized the leadership.
Khimki stood out among RPL teams for its vocal backing of Russia's war in Ukraine. Following the invasion, the club incorporated the St. George's ribbon and Russian flag into its kits, while its sparsely attended stadium displayed military banners featuring the "Z" symbol and the slogan "Victory will be ours!" Officials framed this as support for territorial annexation, though fans dismissed it as performative posturing.
Reports identify the club's primary investor as enigmatic businessman Tufan Sadygov, now facing substantial debts and criminal charges. Courts have provisionally recognized creditor claims worth 14.9 billion rubles out of 18.2 billion sought against him, though the final creditors' registry remains incomplete. These include both personal and institutional debts.
In December 2024, Sadygov was indicted in a major fraud case unrelated to sports, alongside five other executives. TASS reported the alleged damages at 100 million rubles.