Why do Russian footballers prefer foreign doctors?

Many athletes – particularly footballers – seeking a quick fix for their ailments travel to Europe for treatment. But why do athletes still go abroad to get patched up?

Spartak Moscow's team doctor Yury Vasilkov says there’s no reason why Russia can’t treat its football stars.

“We are able to break down the athlete’s condition to the smallest details,” Vasilkov says. “We perform a very thorough physical check-up on every player, partly because very big money is involved. Football is business.”

Vasilkov admits that although the country has great trauma surgeons, Russian football teams still prefer to send injured players abroad for rehabilitation. He hopes that situation will somehow change during the next two years.