Lokomotiv Moscow’s coach Mikhail Galaktionov spoke about Artem Dzyuba continuing his own program on YouTube, noting that the club does not view this as a problem within the Russian Football program aired on Rossiya 24. Galaktionov, a former assistant under Leonid Slutsky with the national team, emphasized that the issue requires careful handling rather than outright censure.
He added that the club must maintain a clear standard for behavior, especially as it aims to set a positive example for the academy’s young players who look up to professional athletes. In his view, some aspects of the output may need adjustments to align with the club’s message and values, while still allowing personal expression within recognized boundaries.
On August 16, the Control and Disciplinary Committee of the Russian Football Union suspended Dzyuba for two matches and fined him 50,000 rubles after he directed threats at a journalist following the end of the game against Samara Wings of the Soviets in the Russian Premier League’s fourth round. The sanctions were issued to address the incident and to reaffirm standards of conduct on and off the pitch.
Dzyuba joined Lokomotiv in February 2023. In May, he signed a new contract with the club through the end of the 2023/24 season, with an option to extend for another year. He continued to contribute on the field, including scoring a decisive goal in the seventh round of the RPL against Baltika in a 3-2 victory on September 3.
Earlier in the season, Dzyuba responded with humor to a ball boy’s request, showing a lighter side amid the intense environment of professional football. The sequence highlighted the human aspect of players who are under constant scrutiny while still balancing personal expression with professional responsibility.