Article by Răzvan Stamatiu – Published Friday, January 16, 2026 11:56 p.m. / Updated Friday, January 16, 2026 11:57 p.m.
Valeriu Iftime, the financier of the FC Botoșani club, was the guest of the day at GSP Live, where he described the conditions at the Municipal Stadium. His statements come after the city councilor, Cosmin Ionuț Andrei, said that sport is not, for now, a priority in setting the budget.
The owner of the Superliga revelation club complains about the state of the arena and asks the City Hall for immediate support. The businessman is particularly bothered by the lack of a cloakroom in optimal conditions. There is, in this sense, a project worth 400,000 euros, says Valeriu Iftime.
In addition, the financier of FC Botoșani was also dissatisfied with the fact that the “Municipal” has uncovered stands, something that alienates the spectators, especially during the winter.
VIDEO. Valeriu Iftime asks Botoșani City Hall for a cloakroom: “If we don't succeed, we can call ourselves a commune”
“I often meet with the mayor, we have a friendly relationship. I think we have to prioritize things. The locker room is a zero priority, given the level of the show, the ranking and the interest of the people. It's only about the locker room, which can be done starting today. It is a project that costs about 400,000 euros. It's true, without a budget you can't move at all.
Whatever the situation, there are solutions by which the construction of this locker room can begin in a few days. I also promised the mayor that we can give some money through the County Council, as far as the budget allows.
Whatever we say, if a town like Botoşani can't afford to build a changing room, it means we have a big problem. If we are not able to build a changing room, then Botoșani becomes a commune!”, said Valeriu Iftime, at GSP Live.
“The spectators must also be respected. In this cold, at 9 p.m., no one comes”
FC Botoșani's boss points out other problems of the “Municipal”, such as the lack of a roof and the absence of the de-icing system for the secondary fields.
“We didn't train at all in Botoșani this year, the conditions aren't the best. The big field, the playing field, has a de-icing system, but the training fields don't. We play on a frozen field, it doesn't suit us at all, not only because you can't train, but also because there are a lot of complicated situations and you can get injured.
It's not just the playing conditions that matter. And the spectators should be much more respected. Staying in an open stadium for a while like this…
The pitch de-icing system works, but there is no such thing for the spectator seats either! On a cold day, if you play an important match at 9 p.m., no one comes. It's complicated bad. Football is made to produce a show, for people to come. And if people don't have conditions, it's clear that something in this show is dying”, explained Valeriu Iftime.
I am convinced that there are solutions. This fire has gotten really hot and we have to put it out. The players were rightfully inflamed, they also “stung” me during the weekend. We have some things to do. Together with my team, we have to organize the club, pay the salaries and have all the training conditions. The city hall must create playing conditions, because that is where the sports show takes place. I am convinced that the people of Botoșani want this job
– Valeriu Iftime
