Naftan FC players on verge of strike

Football players may refuse to play the next match if the team does not receive salary.

Mikita Bukatkin, the captain of Navapolatsk-based football club Naftan, said after the Belarusian Cup final the players will not appear for a match with Shakhter at the next round of the tournament if the club does not pay debts to sportsmen.

“We were told the arrears in salaries will be paid before our game with Shakhter. If it does not happen, the team will not go to the match,” he said in an interview to Pressball newspaper.

Naftan from Navapolatsk won the Belarusian Football Cup on May 20.

Navapolatsk players had a penalty shoot-out win over Minsk FC in the final match on Dinamo Stadium in Minsk.