BDO supports Russian Fifa World Cup bid

13 January 2010 | Posted in Agencies, Soccer | By

The Russian arm of global consultancy BDO will provide financial and management support to the Fifa World Cup 2018/2022 Russian bid committee.

BDO has a strong history with Russian sport, having worked on Sochi's winning bid to host the 2014 winter Olympic Games, sponsored the national soccer team and also acted as outside auditor for the Russian Football Union. The support it will offer the bid is worth a seven-figure sum.

Speaking on the partnership, Alex Sorokin, chief executive of the bid committee and the Russian Football Union, said: “The compilation of the comprehensive bid documents as well as the co-ordination of our work with a large number of private and governmental stakeholders require a great deal of legal, financial, auditing and consulting expertise.”

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Mikhail Grishakin, managing partner of BDO in Russia, added: “BDO is honoured to associate itself with Russia’s bid for the most important single sports event in the world by making its extensive audit, consulting experience and knowledge available. Today, sport in general and football in particular require such services and we are pleased to be at the forefront of this domain.

"Since 2004, BDO has actively participated in the licensing procedure for Russian football clubs under UEFA requirements. Integration into the international sports network will enable BDO in Russia to utilise the combined experience of its offices around the world to best serve the RFU.

"We believe that Russia has a strong chance to win their bid for the World Cup. We are happy to strengthen our relationship with the RFU and to assist in organising and staging this honorable football event with such a global impact.”