SOCHI, Russia (AP) The Russian city of Sochi’s only professional soccer club says it is withdrawing from the league, in a move which calls World Cup legacy plans into question.
FC Sochi says in a website statement that it’s ”taking a break” to rethink its strategy but plans to return in the 2018-19 season. ”This does not mean that FC Sochi will cease to exist,” the club added.
It didn’t mention any deal with Russian football authorities, who would need to approve any return.
FC Sochi, which played in the Russian third tier, had been due to move into Sochi’s World Cup stadium after the tournament.