MOSCOW, February 27 (Russian FA) - The head of the Russian Football Association has come out in support of national team coach Guus Hiddink after the Dutchman was found guilty of tax evasion on Tuesday.
Speaking at an executive committee meeting in Moscow, which was unrelated to today's verdict in Den Bosch, Vitaly Mutko insisted he has no intention of cancelling Hiddink's contract.
He said: "We express our full support to Guus Hiddink and hope that the current problems do not reflect on his work with the Russian national team.
"We have no intention of breaking off his contract.
"Hiddink is a football manager, and the handling of all financial matters was down to his advisers. Therefore all I can do is express my regret at the decision taken today.
"When we offered Guus Hiddink the position of head coach of Russia, we very carefully considered the conditions of his contract and the tax components, and even consulted with the Russian Ministry of Finance on the matter."
Hiddink was handed a six-month suspended sentence and a 45,000 euro fine after being found guilty of evading almost £1million in taxes between 2002 and 2003.
He said: "We express our full support to Guus Hiddink and hope that the current problems do not reflect on his work with the Russian national team.
"We have no intention of breaking off his contract.
"Hiddink is a football manager, and the handling of all financial matters was down to his advisers. Therefore all I can do is express my regret at the decision taken today.
"When we offered Guus Hiddink the position of head coach of Russia, we very carefully considered the conditions of his contract and the tax components, and even consulted with the Russian Ministry of Finance on the matter."
Hiddink was handed a six-month suspended sentence and a 45,000 euro fine after being found guilty of evading almost £1million in taxes between 2002 and 2003.
Copyright (c) Press Association
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