Since Vyacheslav Koloskov resigned as president of the Russian Football Union (RFU) last year, the demand for his talents as a functionary has arisen only at major international tournaments. At the current World Cup, he is the head of the FIFA delegation in Hanover - in fact, the football mayor of the city for the duration of the World Cup matches. The Izvestia correspondent spent the whole day in the German kingdom of a Russian official and became convinced that Koloskov was still more alive than all the living.
In the hall of a four-star hotel, sheltered in the quiet center of Hanover, Koloskov sailed with the usual imposingness. Slates, white sweatpants and a striped polo, worn by the vice president of FIFA, were the first indicator that running a football city is the work of those that do not interfere with the rest. Accompanying me to the block occupied by FIFA, Koloskov does not forget that even at 65 you can be seductive: he looks into the office of the media service and sends air kisses to the two girls sitting there. The girls are thrilled.
Koloskov’s working day begins at 9.30. At this time, he goes down to his office - a techno-style hotel room - and looks through the news. At 10 o'clock discusses current issues with his team. Although today Hanover says goodbye to the World Cup match Spain - France, there are no curious topics at this meeting. It was much more interesting on Tuesday - the day after Valentin Ivanov made a multi-colored firework from cards in the match Netherlands - Portugal. “In truth, there is no one to discuss football with: FIFA employees are very politically correct. In addition, more than half of the 12 people under my command are girls,” complains Koloskov. “But that does not prevent me from having my own opinion. Everything was formally correct in Ivanov’s actions. But in fact, he got the game out of control. Now Ivanov no longer has a chance to work in this tournament. "
Hour of the day, lunch time. Koloskov, at the mention of a day's meal, wrinkles slightly: "Something I'm not used to eating here. First, I rarely dine at all. Second, friends usually call in at this time and we walk around the city." However, today Koloskov decides to make an exception and asks his German driver to take him somewhere out of town to find out what a classical German village is. An hour later, the driver comes with one single option: a village 25 kilometers from Hanover. Koloskov decides that this is far away, and crosses the route - we go to a German pub.
“I don’t really like beer, so I’ve never been to local zucchini for 17 days,” he explains. “But since tomorrow I’m leaving for Berlin anyway, I’ll have to try it in the end.” The white Hyundai, allocated for official use to Koloskov, takes us to a pub filled with fans from France and Spain: they knead the ligaments before the 1/8 final match with alcohol and singing. Pork leg with stewed cabbage - a standard tourist order anywhere in the German food service ... Koloskov understands why he was not so attracted to try the local cuisine. “Not mine!” He summarizes. “You yourself saw everything: I really like cabbage, but I only picked my leg a little ...”
Koloskov speaks of work at the championship with visible pleasure. Although many of his colleagues had a hard time these days. The chairman of the organizing committee, Franz Beckenbauer, attends every match of the tournament, moving around Germany by helicopter. FIFA President Joseph Blatter should not be present everywhere, but in order to be in time, he is also forced to travel by air - on a small plane. "Is it true that per diem of officials like you are $ 500 a day?" I ask. “At the World Cup - yes. Money is big, but we must take into account that we pay for everything except the hotel. For example, for expensive German food and for all extra services. Every day I take a whole package of clothes to the laundry: it's hot "you have to change two or three shirts. Although $ 500 for a comfortable life, of course, is enough."
Koloskov’s immediate plans include leaving for Berlin and resolving the issue of tickets for the finals for VIP guests from Russia. President of the Russian Olympic Committee Leonid Tyagachev has already received two invitations - for himself and his spouse. “I got information that someone from the government could drive up,” continues Koloskov. “Well, I can get another 2-3 tickets. If, of course, these are really VIPs like Fetisov or, for example, vice Premiere of Zhukov - a big football fan. "
- Do you yourself like such a life? I ask finally.
“Yes, I have enough of everything,” comes out in response. - Previously, each championship brought stiffness, tension and self-control. And now I go to matches and just enjoy life.
Yuri Dud