I decided to write about FC Saturn Moscow Oblast after finding that there were no takers. In the beginning of my research into the club, I found out that the club was dissolved in the beginning of 2011 because of its the financial problems.
The following is a brief history of FC Saturn Moscow Oblast from what could be gathered from available sources. I will also attempt to deal with the issues that led to the demise of the club.
Brief History
FC Saturn Moscow Oblast began its existence in the year 1946 and was based in Saturn Stadium located at Ramenskoe, Moscow, Russia. The club had previous names such as Krylia Sovetov and Trud before adopting its present name.
FC Saturn's colors were blue and black and its supporters were known as the Aliens. The traditional enemies of FC Saturn Moscow Oblast were the FC Lokomotiv Moscow.
The Fall Of Saturn
The last year was fatal for FC Saturn Moscow Oblast in spite of Russia winning the honors of hosting the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The club began to have financial problems with a debt of $27 million over its head.
The Moscow Regional Government (the owners of FC Saturn) attempted to find a way to resolve the club's debt crisis and save it, but sadly FC Saturn stopped payment of the salaries of its employees, including players.
FC Saturn attempted to close a business deal with Cerveceria Modelo in Mexico, the parent company of Corona, but the deal tanked after Corona stipulated that the club pay its employees and players.
The owners attempted a merger between FC Saturn with FC Khimki with no success. Meanwhile, there were people who suspected that FC Saturn was being sacrificed in favor of other clubs.
Andrei Karyaka (FC Saturn and Benfica midfielder) asked questions about how FC Saturn could accumulate such a large debt in relatively little time. The leadership of FC Saturn told him not to worry.
Valdimir Romanov (a businessman from Lithuania) initially made plans to buy FC Saturn but changed his mind. The decision by Romanov sounded the death knell for the club.
FC Saturn's directors wrote a letter to Sergei Pryadkin (President of the Russian Premier League-RPL) informing him of the decision to withdraw from the league and disband. At the present time, there is a FC Saturn 2 Moscow Oblast playing in the Russian Second Division
Lessons
The sporting associations (like any other associations) must learn how to be accountable with their finances. I have to conclude that UEFA may have done the right thing when it approved its Financial Fair Play Rule.
