Evgeny Savin, a former striker for Samara’s Wings of the Soviets and today a blogger plus president of Krasava football club, commented on social media after learning that the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs had placed him on a wanted list. He addressed the news with characteristic resilience, signaling that his career on the field remains active and his public presence continues to grow.
He wrote that the information reached him just as his team prepared for a crucial game. Savin emphasized that his football activities are conducted with integrity and transparency, promising to show up for the biggest match of the season the next day. He also noted that the entry fee would be waived for Interior Ministry employees as a gesture of goodwill and unity around the sport they all love.
The host of the YouTube project Krasava faced criminal charges connected to a video he released in April 2022. In that episode, the participation of Ukrainian football players provided a platform to share perspectives on Russia’s actions during its military operation. Contributors included notable players such as Andrei Yarmolenko, Dario Srna, Andrei Voronin, Vitaly Mikolenko, and Alexander Aliev, each offering their views on the situation at the time.
Following the release, Savin, who had been playing in the Russian Second League during the 2021/22 season, was barred from training at Krasava’s base in Krasnogorsk. This disruption coincided with the decision by the club’s founder to relocate from Russia, citing safety concerns and the evolving sports landscape. The move underscored the pressures players faced amid a charged environment surrounding the sport and its tradeoffs for international careers.
Eventually, Savin relocated to Cyprus and joined the country’s second division with a team bearing the same name. His decision reflected a broader pattern among players seeking competitive opportunities abroad while navigating the consequences of domestic sport governance and public scrutiny. The shift also highlighted how players in today’s football world balance ambition with the realities of political and legal pressures that can arise off the pitch.
In legal terms, Savin faced charges alleging actions intended to discredit the Russian armed forces. The case fell under administrative law provisions, and subsequent developments showed a penalty of fifty thousand rubles. The episode sits within a wider context of how athletes and public figures in this region navigate the intersections of sport, state messaging, and personal expression. At the same time, the Russian Premier League, historically among Europe’s most lucrative leagues, continues to adapt to shifting investment, sponsorship, and governance norms as it competes on the continental stage.