Russia Coach Capello Resigns after Pay Dispute

The Russian Football Union says national team coach Fabio Capello has resigned following a dispute over back pay.

In a statement released Monday, the Russian Football Union did not disclose the financial terms of the settlement but expressed gratitude to Capello for his work.

Russia, the host of the 2018 World Cup, has had a string of poor results, including a 1-0 loss to Austria this month that left the team in danger of failing to qualify for the 2016 European Championship.

The Union's deep debts have sparked speculation that it could not afford to fire Capello given the size of the compensation involved, reportedly more than 21 million euros ($24 million).