The message reads, in part:
“Over the past century, the RFU has made a significant contribution to the development of football and its popularisation in our country. The USSR national team won two Olympic gold medals and the European Cup, and was the European runner-up in 1964, 1972 and 1988.
Today, the RFU is facing vital challenges in the development of youth sport and promoting healthy living among young people. Efforts to improve the training of players for national teams require special attention. In addition, you must do everything in your power to ensure that our team performs successfully at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.”