Vyacheslav Koloskov, who holds the title of Honorary President of the Russian Football Union (RFU), chose not to comment on the disciplinary outcome for Moscow Lokomotiv’s striker Artem Dzyuba following a heated exchange with a journalist and a broader row that drew public attention. RIA Novosti reported the remarks attributed to Koloskov.
Koloskov was quoted saying that Dzyuba is “already in my liver. I’ve been arguing for three years, I’m already tired of it.”
The confrontation began when the journalist asked Dzyuba whether he felt offended by remarks made by Russian coach Igor Shalimov, who had suggested the striker would not score more than two goals in the current season. Dzyuba replied in a tense tone: “Listen, you will finish the game. I’ll set my phone somewhere for you. You understand me? If you come again, I warned you for the last time.”
On August 16, the Control and Disciplinary Committee of the Russian Football Union (FTC RFU) ruled that the striker faced a conditional suspension of two matches. Dzyuba was also fined 50,000 rubles as part of the decision.
Dzyuba joined Lokomotiv in February 2023. In May, he signed a new contract with the team, including an option to extend for another year through the end of the 2023/24 season.
Previously, the FTC RFU announced details surrounding the suspended sentence issued to Dzyuba for threatening a journalist. The incident underscores the ongoing scrutiny faced by high-profile players in Russian football and the governing body’s approach to disciplinary actions in cases involving public disputes and player conduct.