MOSCOW, December 18 (R-Sport) – The question of Fabio Capello's long-mooted contract extension as manager of the Russian national football team looks no closer to resolution over a month into negotiations, with the latest football association executive committee meeting ending Wednesday without the issue being raised.
Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko had said that all the details of the 67-year-old's deal to remain for the 2018 World Cup on home soil had been hammered out, and that all that was missing was the Italian's signature. But last month, Capello’s agent and son Pierfilippo said some important issues still needed to be resolved in the talks, which formally began on November 6.
R-Sport understands the question of Capello's new deal to take him beyond the Brazil 2014 finals was not raised at Wednesday's FA meeting at the Russian Dom Futbola, or Football House. Capello attended the meeting but left before it had been adjourned.
The Russian FA's president Nikolai Tolstykh has offered Capello sweeping powers to control the country’s national teams at all levels if he signs the deal, putting the Italian front and center in Russia's preparations to host the World Cup.
Capello took charge of Russia in July 2012 on a two-year contract worth a reported five million euros a year. Since taking over from Dick Advocaat, Capello has guided Russia to their first World Cup in 12 years by qualifying for Brazil 2014.
After Russia impressively won qualifying Group F by a point over Portugal, Capello had been linked with a number of jobs including the vacant position at English club Tottenham Hotspur after Andre Villas-Boas was fired this week.
Speculation remains that Capello, spotted at Spurs' 5-0 thrashing by Liverpool over the weekend, could take temporary charge at White Hart Lane until the end of the season.
