The clubs of the Russian Premier League (RPL) have reached a consensus during a general meeting regarding who should fill the vacancy left by FC Khimki, which failed to obtain a license from the Russian Football Union (RFU) for the top division.

“In accordance with the regulations and the RFU’s request, the clubs of the RPL world have formulated a position at the general assembly concerning who should take the place of FC Khimki, which did not receive the RFU-1 license. By majority vote, taking into account the sporting results of the 2024/2025 season, it is recommended to the RFU Executive Committee to consider the candidacy of FC Pari Nizhny Novgorod. The opinion of the RPL will be taken into account when the RFU Executive Committee makes its final decision,” stated the RPL in a release that was shared on the organization’s Telegram channel.

It is worth noting that FC Orenburg and FC Fakel were directly relegated from the RPL. FC Pari Nizhny Novgorod lost in the playoff matches against FC Sochi. Last season, FC Krasnodar was crowned the national champion, while Zenit St. Petersburg secured the second place. In the First League, FC Baltika emerged as the winner, with FC Torpedo finishing in second place.