MOSCOW: Russia’s national coach Fabio Capello, who has not been paid since before the World Cup in Brazil, will receive all monies due, according to Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko.

But Mutko, who is also a member of world federation FIFA’s executive committee, conceded that the Italian would be perfectly within his rights to lodge a legal claim with a civil court or with European association UEFA.

Oreste Cinquini, Capello’s aide as the Russian team’s general manager, is in the same unpaid boat for which the Russian Football Union has apologised,

Mutko, as reported by ITAR-TASS, said: “He [Capello] can quit and then submit a suit with a civil court or UEFA. [Financial] compensation may be also demanded and as a result the sum will multiply.”

However Mutko added insisted that, one way or another,  “Capello will receive his salary as it is stipulated by the contract,.”

In mid-December the Russian Federal Agency for Labour and Employment (ROSTRUD) estimated Capello – the highest-paid manager in the world, if he were being paid – as being due $3.3m.

The RFU has been granted until January 19 to pay up.

Mutko said that the Sports Ministry had no role to play. The issue of Capello’s wages was solely up to the RFU which is experiencing financial problems and has admitted to debts of $8.4m.

He acknowledged the Italian’s patience, saying “we see by the way Fabio Capello reacts that money is not the most important to him.”

“He is a decent man and the man, who wants to work.”

Capello has criticised heavily for team selection and tactics when Russia crashed out of the World Cup finals in the first round.

His next challenge is preparing a team for the 2016 European Championship and then, even more important, the 2018 World Cup finals which Russia will host.

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