ZURICH: FIFA has signed state-controlled diamond miner Alrosa as a fourth Russian sponsor, completing its slate of third-tier European backers for the World Cup.

FIFA describes Alrosa as a “giant in the world diamond mining industry.” The value was not disclosed.

Alrosa joins Alfa-Bank, Rostelecom and Russian Railways as World Cup sponsors in a regional category created for the 2018 tournament. The 16 other regional slots for North and Central America, South America, Africa and the Middle East, and Asia are still empty ahead of the June 14 kickoff.

Russian state energy firm Gazprom is among seven top-tier sponsors.

FIFA has signed World Cup sponsors only from Russia, China and Qatar since being rocked by Swiss and American federal investigations of corruption in 2015.

Published in Dawn, April 24th, 2018