Following Georgia’s victory over Portugal at Euro 2024, former prime minister Bidzina Ivanishvili promised to provide £8.4 million to the national football squad.
Under the management of former French defender Willy Sagnol, Georgia defeated Portugal 2-0 on Wednesday in Gelsenkirchen to advance to the round of 16, where they will play Spain.
The triumph over Portugal, according to Ivanishvili, the founder of the dominant Georgian Dream political party and the nation’s prime minister in 2012, was a “historic and dream victory.”
Should they defeat Spain as well, the 68-year-old promised to give the team and coaching staff an additional £8.4 million (30 million Georgian Lari).
Ivanishvili, who made his fortune in Russia during the 1990s by investing in metals, computers, and banking, was born in Georgia.
Forbes estimates Ivanishvili’s wealth at £3.87bn, and his charitable foundation will provide the donations. Although he stepped down as prime minister after 12 months, he remains influential as the Georgian Dream party’s honorary chairman. In April, many Euro 2024 squad members opposed the party over a controversial “foreign agents” law, which led to significant protests.
Georgia, competing in the European Championship for the first time, faces Spain in Cologne on Sunday at 8pm BST.
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