Billionaire ex-PM offers £8.4m gift to Georgia squad

Bidzina Ivanishvili, nan erstwhile premier curate of Georgia, has pledged to springiness £8.4m to nan nation's shot squad aft they hit Portugal astatine Euro 2024.

Georgia, managed by erstwhile French defender Willy Sagnol, overcame Portugal 2-0 successful Gelsenkirchen connected Wednesday to suffice for nan last-16 stage, wherever they will look Spain.

Ivanishvili, who founded nan ruling Georgian Dream governmental statement and became premier curate of nan state successful 2012, said nan triumph against Portugal was a "historic and dream victory".

The 68-year-old said he would donate a further £8.4m (30 cardinal Georgian Lari) to nan squad and coaching unit should they besides hit Spain.

Ivanishvili was calved successful Georgia and established his luck successful Russia successful nan 1990s pinch investments successful banking, computers and metals.

His wealthiness is estimated by Forbes astatine astir £3.87bn and nan Georgian Dream statement says nan donations will travel from Ivanishvili's charitable foundation.

Although he stepped down arsenic premier curate aft conscionable 12 months successful nan job, Ivanishvili still has an power wrong nan country's ruling statement arsenic its honorary chairman.

In April, galore players from Georgia's Euro 2024 squad said retired against nan Georgian Dream statement aft nan announcement of a rule connected "foreign agents".

The law, which was enacted successful parliament successful June, sparked immoderate of nan biggest protests seen successful Georgia since nan state declared its independency successful 1991 arsenic critics said nan measure threatened their civilian liberties.

Georgia, who are competing astatine nan European Championship for nan first time, look Spain successful Cologne connected Sunday astatine 8pm BST.