In the presence of the prime minister, the agreement was signed by President of Rosneft oil company Eduard Khudainatov, Gazprom Neft General Director Alexander Dyukov, Tomsk Region Governor Sergei Zhvachkin, and General Director of the Non-Commercial Partnership Tom Football Club Yury Stepanov.

Tom FC has had financial problems for several years already. Now it can't find funding to continue taking part in the Russian Football Championships, and there is still a big question as to whether the team will compete in 2012.

Vladimir Putin had said earlier that Rosneft and Gazprom Neft are ready to sponsor Tom if the football club's structure is transparent.

In previous years, the prime minister had twice asked the business community to support Tom FC. Both times the companies fulfilled that request without demanding repayment or control over how the funds were spent.

Vladimir Putin noted that if capable shareholders or members of noncommercial partnerships join the club, Tom will get a "reliable, financially secure and capable partner in the form of a Rosneft or Gazprom Neft subsidiary." The prime minister also said, "If people, football lovers, the athletes themselves, or the sports organisers want everything to be built on a solid foundation, everything must be done with complete transparency so it's clear what belongs to whom, what property rights are held over which facilities, and who is controlling the money."