Participants in the working group meeting included representatives from the Russian Government, federal and regional executive agencies, public associations, professional football clubs and the expert community.
Igor Levitin stressed the need to develop a long-term national strategy for developing football with participation by federal, regional and local executive agencies.
The meeting addressed the creation of the Development of Football in the Russian Federation sub-programme and its inclusion into the new Development of Physical Culture and Sport in the Russian Federation in 2016–2020 Federal Target Programme.
Participants in the meeting noted the need to create an effective model for athletic training in football in Russia, including the creation of football centres and development of a specific plan for training the national football team for the 2018 FIFA Football World Cup.
The discussion also addressed the formation of additional sources for financing for professional football organisations. A suggestion was made on creating a Russian development fund for children’s and youth football.
Along with issues of constructing facilities for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, participants discussed issues of subsequent effective use of these facilities, including from an economic standpoint, as well as a list of measures to increase safety at football matches and among fans. The measures include personalising responsibility and identifying individual fans.