Georgian Football Federation will let Premier League hold championship if it will satisfy all terms. Domenti Sichinava, president of Georgian Football Federation, stated about it after meeting representatives of the clubs.
Domenti Sichinava: “Like in November 2010, we are ready to discuss suggestions of any companies which will guarantee holding of championship. This time I talk about television contracts, finances, salaries of referees. As I know, the clubs are working on forming Premier League and when they will finish negotiations, they will form it. But any company which wants to hold the championship must satisfy our terms. For example, million GEL is prize money now. Premier League must increase prize money up to 3 or 5 million GEL and salaries of the referees”.
According to Sichinava, “Dila” Gori, “Zugdidi” signed forming of Premier League. He does not know if “Zestafoni”, “Sioni” Bolnisi, “Dinamo” Batumi and “Torpedo” Kutaisi and “Chikhura” Sachkhere signed. There are 12 clubs in Supreme League. Sichinava stated even journalists can gather and form “Georgian Premier League” but it does not mean they have a right to hold the championship. Sichinava highlighted he did not attend the meeting of minister of sport and representatives of the clubs. So, he cannot say if it was pressure from Levan Kipiani toward the clubs. According to the rumors, Thursday’s meeting was held to convince the clubs demand elections against Sichinava.
Aka Kavtaradze, representative of “Metallurg” Rustavi, and Roman Pipia, president of “Dinamo”, stated that 6 clubs had signed forming of Premier League. According to Pipia, this document is proved by notary and registered in Public Registry. Pipia explained why he left the meeting with the minister of sport earlier than other representatives of the clubs:
“Hopefully, we will gain a right to hold the championship from the next year. As for the meeting with the minister, it was not well-organized. Format was not acceptable for me. We agreed on round table and we did not have to go to the hall. We have formed Premier League. In our opinion, budgetary financing must not be biased which is in case of “Dila” Gori. If “Kolkheti” Poti receives 300000 GEL from the budget, “Dila” must receive the same.
“Zestafoni” has not signed forming Premier League because Ilia Kokaia, president of the club, was not in Tbilisi. “Torpedo” has not signed. “Dila”, “Dinamo” Batumi, “Kolkheti”, “Sioni” and “Zugdidi” are budgetary clubs and City Council must decide their issue. If “Dila” does not sign, it will not prevent forming professional league. Though, all clubs will participate in this process. We have half year to work on broadcast issue with TV companies”.
According to Kavtaradze, meeting with the minister was not prepared:
“The meeting was not prepared. “Torpedo” presented development plan of football and direction of the meeting was changed. We formed professional league one week ago and 6 clubs signed it”.
The president of the federation and the representatives of the clubs discussed the date of the start of the championship. Perhaps, the season will resume on February 21-22. 1/8 final of Georgian Cup will be held on February 26 and March 2. The championship will resume on March 9 and will end up on May 18-19. The final of Cup will be held on May 23 or 26.
Gia Isiani, manager of “Dila”, mentioned he did not participate in forming Premier League. In his opinion, the final of Cup should be held in April.
Gregory Surkis, former president of Ukrainian Football Federation and member of UEFA executive committee, will arrive in Tbilisi on Monday. He will meet representatives of Georgian government to get guarantee of holding UEFA Super Cup 2015 in Tbilisi. Besides that, Georgia wants to host final of UEFA Futsal Cup and the Georgian delegation will discuss this issue with Surkis.
It is unclear, why media was not informed about forming of Premier League. It is not a state secret.
Lasha Tabagari
