Swiss Coach Fabio Celestinis CSKA Moscow Appointment Raises Sanctions Concerns

Swiss football coach Fabio Celestini is set to assume the role of head coach at CSKA Moscow, a decision that has sparked criticism in his native Switzerland and could potentially lead to criminal charges under Swiss law, as reported by the Swiss newspaper Blick.

Last season, Celestini led FC Basel to triumphs in both the Swiss Super League and the Swiss Cup, and he has also played for the Swiss national team. He officially signed with CSKA on June 20 for a two-year term, with the possibility of extending it for a third year.

The owner of CSKA, the state development corporation VEB, is currently facing sanctions from the U.S., EU, and Switzerland due to its involvement in financing Russia’s war efforts.

The sanctions outline that VEB is engaged in activities in Ukrainian regions occupied by Russia, executing projects that have the backing of the Russian government.

Legal experts have indicated to Blick that if Celestini receives his salary from VEB’s funds, he could be subject to these sanctions.

However, should he remain in Russia, avoid working in Switzerland or his adopted country, Spain, and refrain from transferring his earnings from CSKA to Swiss or Spanish bank accounts, the likelihood of criminal charges diminishes.

In Switzerland, breaches of sanctions laws are treated as criminal offenses, with penalties including fines up to 500,000 Swiss francs (approximately $600,000) or imprisonment for up to one year. More severe violations, such as repeated offences or substantial financial gain, could lead to sentences of up to five years and potential confiscation of assets.

The Swiss publication Tages-Anzeiger labeled Celestini’s decision as «morally bankrupt,» while Neue Zürcher Zeitung described it as «ethically ambiguous and contentious.»

Following Blick’s article, CSKA’s communications director, Kirill Breido, asserted that VEB is not the owner of the club and emphasized that CSKA itself is not under EU or Swiss sanctions.

According to Breido, VEB transferred 77.63% of CSKA shares to Balance Asset Management, a Moscow-based real estate investment firm, in 2022.

Meanwhile, Russian football remains isolated from the international sports community due to the conflict in Ukraine.

Ajax Amsterdam recently opted against signing FC Krasnodar midfielder Eduard Spertsyan, who was recognized by Transfermarkt as the top player of the 2025 season, due to his association with a Russian club.

Additionally, FIFA has reportedly prohibited Lokomotiv Moscow from registering new players as of June 18, citing the club’s failure to compensate Ukrainian club Mariupol for the training expenses of player Mark Mampassi.