There were memorable moments in the Sochi versus Zenit clash during the 29th round of the Russian Premier League. As the game neared its end, Sochi prepared a tactical substitution that would have allowed Kirill Zaika to stay on the pitch. Yet the substitution could not proceed because Zaika was wearing a wedding ring. The reserve referee prohibited entering the field with the ring but did not order the removal of the jewelry. Consequently, Sochi players held their substitutes on the bench, and Zaika remained off the field.
According to Match TV, several members of the Sochi squad could not remove the ring from Zaika due to a broken finger, a detail that added to the complexity of the situation. The same source indicated that Zaika would require surgical intervention to address the injury.
The match finished in a 1-1 draw, with Artur Yusupov and Gustavo Mantuan trading goals for their sides. Sochi, sitting on 38 points with one round to play, remained in 10th place in the standings. In the upcoming final round, the team coached by Dmitry Khokhlov is set to travel to face Ural.
Zenit had already secured the Russian championship on May 7, marking a successful season for the club. Meanwhile, the season’s conclusions brought changes at the bottom of the table, as Torpedo and Khimki prepared for relegation from the top tier of Russian football.
Earlier in the campaign, reports noted that CSKA Moscow did not manage to defeat Krasnodar in their RPL encounter, a result that influenced the competitive landscape of the league as it moved toward its final stages. These developments collectively shaped the narrative of a season that mixed dramatic on-field action with procedural challenges and the emotional weight of injuries and consequences for players and teams alike.