Russia's lavish parties make headlines in Israel

TEL AVIV, Feb 6 (Reuters) Russian champions CSKA Moscow beat Spartak Moscow to scoop 1 million dollar in prize money at a tournament in Israel last week, but the real competition seemed to be which billionaire could throw the most lavish party.

The 8 million dollar six-team tournament, sponsored by Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, was originally designed to provide top Russian and Ukrainian clubs with quality competition during their long winter break.

But with parties featuring lots of vodka, caviar and hordes of leggy blondes, the event was as much a social gathering for the rich and famous as it was a soccer competition.

With last year's tournament, involving CSKA, Spartak as well as Ukraine's top duo Shakhtar Donetsk and Dynamo Kiev, being largely ignored by the Israeli public, this year organisers added two home clubs to fuel interest.

But despite extensive media coverage, attendances were still disappointing.

The final was played in a half-empty 16,500-seat Blumfield Stadium, while group matches drew even less.

Most fans were from the country's large Russian-speaking community but native Israelis showed little interest. Even matches involving the two leading Israeli sides, Maccabi Haifa and Hapoel Tel Aviv, failed to capture their imagination.

REKINDLE MEMORIES The only exception was the match pitting Spartak against Dynamo Kiev, Russia and Ukraine's most popular clubs who between them won 25 Soviet league titles. The fixture sought to rekindle memories of their rivalry in the 1970s and 80s.

''The Israeli public by large have not understood the very nature of this tournament,'' Israeli FA press officer Ofer Ronen-Abels said.

''Israeli fans don't want to pay money to watch friendlies. In three weeks when Maccabi Haifa face CSKA in the UEFA Cup at this stadium, I can bet there'll be a lot more people here.

''Russian or Ukrainian teams also lack star players for local fans to identify with. If we had Chelsea playing, this stadium would have been full,'' Ronen-Abels added.

''The English Premiership is so popular in Israel that most fans would prefer to watch it on TV rather than come to the stadium to see some of these teams.

''Years ago, when we competed internationally in the Oceania zone, it was a very big deal for us to have a team from Europe coming here, even for a friendly. In the early 1980s we had Manchester United and Aston Villa here. It was huge.'' While having Chelsea compete in this tournament looks unrealistic for now with no midseason break in the Premier League, there is talk of expanding the competition further.

''I think the tournament is here to stay. The quality of football has grown from last year and I think this trend will continue,'' said CSKA president Yevgeny Giner.

''It would be tough to bring clubs from England, Italy or Spain here at this time of the year simply because they are playing in their domestic leagues, but we can try to invite top teams from South America, from Brazil or Argentina for example.'' FORBES LIST Some fans paid more attention to VIP guests than soccer.

With the likes of Abramovich, Shakhtar Donetsk president and Ukraine's wealthiest magnate Rinat Akhmetov, Spartak boss Leonid Fedun and others in attendance, the VIP box at Blumfield resembled a Forbes Magazine list of the world's richest men.

While some VIPs came to be seen, at least one showed a genuine interest in the game itself.

Abramovich, accompanied by close friends and fellow oligarchs, diamond magnate Lev Levaev and Giner, attended every match aside from the opener.

Still, soccer was only part of the whole show.

While in football only a few could compete on equal terms with Abramovich's deep pockets, he found a worthy rival in Betar Jerusalem owner and fellow Russian-born billionaire Arkady Gaydamak off the field at least.

For over a week, the two oligarchs tried to outdo each other by bringing planeloads of Russian pop stars to Israel, where nearly a quarter of the 7.3 million population speaks Russian, to entertain their guests.

The lavish parties made native Israelis envious and drew a sarcastic response from the media.

''The Russians are coming! The Russians are coming!'' read the headline in leading daily Maariv.

Gaydamak, whose son Alexandre owns Chelsea's English Premier League rivals Portsmouth, will have a good chance to compete on the soccer pitch as well next year.

With Betar on top of the Israeli league midway though the season, the chances are they will be invited to take part in a third edition.

Abramovich has already indicated he will run the tournament again next year. For many, his word is as good as gold.

Reuters SAM RS1510