Amazing things have happened recently. First, “Dila” Gori stated the club had financial problems. Authorities of Football Federation and Ministry of Sport promised the club to help it. Later, “Zestafoni” stated about the same problem. Now “Iberia Star” of futsal. It is the club which played in final of UEFA Futsal Cup three weeks ago.
If the club is not helped till June, perhaps, it will disintegrate. On Wednesday the club held a press conference and made a special statement. Here is the statement:
“Final of UEFA Futsal Cup has held in Tbilisi recently. Michel Platini, president of UEFA, opened the ceremony. “Iberia Star” took the 4th place in Europe. After the elite round where “Iberia Star” beat “Benfica” and “Luparense”, the play of “Iberia Star” gave us hope that our team could have won Champions League. “Iberia” has not lost 10 matches in the league.
The final which took place in Tbilisi and its result showed that in case of finances, the champion of Georgia can win Champions League, like we did on May 13, 1981. “Iberia Star” has defeated the richest clubs of Europe for many years.
Unfortunately, because of financial crisis “Iberia” could not manage to keep the main players and played in the final with the second squad.
Because of the same reasons, “Iberia Star” cannot exist independently. The club has been financed by its founder for 11 years. 15 companies finance “Dinamo” Moscow, 13 – “Kairat”. None of the elite round participant teams have less than 10 sponsors. Unfortunately, the only exception is “Iberia Star”.
June 1 is deadline when champion of Georgia “Iberia Star” must submit an application in UEFA about participation in the following season of Champions League.
If Georgian businessmen, clubs of Supreme League or Municipality do not show their interest toward the best Georgian club in Georgian sport history, the club will be declared bankrupt and stops existence”.
Solomon Gulisashvili
