The chairman of the Control and Disciplinary Committee of the Russian Football Union, Artur Grigoryants, announced that the case involving Roman Shirokov’s suspension from football duties will be reviewed anew. Grigoryants noted that Shirokov has submitted an appeal to the federation, and because of the procedural decisions in the prior stage, the ethics committee of the Moscow Football Federation has voided its earlier ruling. The case has been referred to the Moscow Football Control and Disciplinary Committee for reconsideration. All procedural requirements must be carefully observed in the next steps, according to Grigoryants as reported by a major sports publication.
Shirokov holds an administrative role as the head coach of the Strogino 2008 team. The former Russian international midfielder was suspended from football activities in Moscow for a period of six months following an on-field incident during a match between Strogino and Rodina, a game that featured players born in 2008 or later. After using profanity, he directed insults at the match official and received a monetary fine of 10,000 rubles. The incident marked yet another episode in a history of confrontations between Shirokov and referees.
Public records indicate that a previous confrontation occurred in August 2020, when Shirokov allegedly assaulted an amateur match referee, Nikita Danchenkov. That case resulted in a substantial penalty, including a 100,000 ruble fine, 100 hours of community service, and compensation for non-pecuniary damages. This history underscores a recurring pattern of disputes with referees that have attracted notice within football circles.
In related news, reports also highlighted disciplinary actions involving a club president who was fined for insulting a referee, illustrating that tensions around officiating have drawn commentary from several levels of football administration. Observers emphasize that these matters are taken seriously by governing bodies, which aim to uphold integrity and professional conduct across all levels of the sport.