Andrei Malosolov, influential figure in Russian sports journalism and fan movements, passes away
The death of a well known sports journalist who helped shape fan culture in Russia became public on May 2. Local media reported that Malosolov died on May 1 after being found unconscious; emergency teams arrived promptly but could not revive him. The exact medical cause was discussed as a detached blood clot by close colleagues and reporters familiar with his career.
From a young age, Malosolov was deeply involved in the CSKA Moscow supporters community and actively supported traveling supporters at matches. He initiated the publication Russian Fan Vestnik in 1990, a project that documented and connected fan groups across the country. His career spanned several major outlets, including Komsomolskaya Pravda, Rossiyskaya Gazeta, and RIA Novosti, where he covered not only sports but also socio-political topics. His coverage in the mid 90s included armed conflicts in Chechnya and Yugoslavia, reflecting a broad reporting scope beyond football.
In 2005, Malosolov took the helm of the press service at the Russian Football Union RFU, a position he held for five years. Two years later he co founded the All Russian Fans Association with Alexander Shprygin, then head of the capital’s Dynamo fan movement. The organization aimed to coordinate collective fan trips to national team matches and to advocate for fans within the sport. His influence on fan culture remained notable as the movement evolved over the following decade.
By 2010 Malosolov stepped away from the RFU press service and pursued a diverse set of roles. He worked as a marketing director for Zhemchuzhina Sochi, led the press operations of a United Football League project, hosted a writer’s program on Radio Sport, and taught at the Synergy University. These experiences reflected a career that blended journalism with sports marketing, outreach, and education, highlighting his ability to communicate about football from multiple perspectives.
Throughout his career Malosolov was not without controversy. In June 2019 he was involved in a racist dispute involving Spartak Moscow striker Luis Adriano. During a match between Spartak and CSKA, he posted a message that used demeaning language toward the Brazilian player. Spartak Moscow formally requested that he be prosecuted for actions aimed at humiliating a person on the ground of racial intolerance, and a capital court later issued a fine, marking a public moment in the ongoing conversation about racism in football communities. The RFU and other bodies offered condolences to Malosolov’s family in statements released by their communications teams, acknowledging the complexity of his public persona and his long service to the sport. The CSKA press service later described his death as a significant loss for the army fan movement and the broader club community, noting his passionate devotion to CSKA and to the fans who followed the team across the country.
In reflecting on Malosolov’s impact, colleagues and former associates shared memories of his candid approach and his commitment to the people around him. Ilya Kazakov, long associated with the Russian national team and the RFU, shared remembrances emphasizing Malosolov’s talent, sincerity, and the sense of loyalty he showed to friends and allies in football circles. Kazakov recalled the way Malosolov balanced his professional work with his personal passions, including his ties to CSKA, the national team, and the fan movement. He wrote about the quiet moments that revealed a different side of his colleague, including a personal garden project that had become a symbol of life and growth amid urban settings. Such recollections illustrated the human dimensions behind a career that touched many facets of Russian football life.
Malosolov is survived by his wife and two sons. His passing has prompted reflections across the sports media community in Russia and among fan groups that benefited from his advocacy and leadership. The broader football world has noted the abrupt end of a figure who helped shape the relationship between clubs, players, and supporters, leaving behind a legacy that will be felt in discussions about fan rights, club communications, and the responsibilities of media figures who cover football in highly charged environments. The loss is mourned by those who knew him personally and by fans who remember the movements he helped to sustain, even as the game continues to evolve in Russia and beyond.