Vyacheslav Koloskov, who serves as Honorary President of the Russian Football Union, called for the strictest possible punishment from the Control and Disciplinary Committee of the RFU for Spartak forward Alexander Sobolev. The case relates to an obscene gesture directed at CSKA defender Willian Rocha during the 28th week clash between Spartak and CSKA in the Russian Premier League.
According to Koloskov, the gesture needed to be understood in the context of the refereeing decisions and the impetus behind Sobolev’s actions, while Roshi attempted to communicate his own interpretation to the match officials. The former Spartak official noted that the referee’s assessment should align with the intent and impact seen on the field, emphasizing the necessity for clarity and consistency in sanctions.
There is a suggestion of a procedural framework guiding the disciplinary outcomes, with Koloskov indicating that the sanction should reflect the severity of the incident and the surrounding circumstances. The conversation around the appropriate length of suspension centers on balancing punitive measures with the norms of disciplinary enforcement that are in place within Russian football.
During the match, Sobolev was shown a red card in the 67th minute for an action in which he appeared to touch his groin area in front of Willian Rocha. The incident drew widespread attention as the game progressed, and the consequences of the on-field conduct became a focal point for post-match discussions.
On May 24, the RFU Control and Disciplinary Committee reviewed the incident and issued a four-game suspension for Sobolev, while commentators noted concerns about how the red card issued to Rocha was recorded in the official summary. Observers argued that the red card against Rocha had not been properly documented in the disciplinary sheet, prompting debate about the accuracy of the published decisions.
Andrey Chervichenko, the former president of Spartak, commented on the RFU Disciplinary Board decision, expressing his stance that the four-match ban for Sobolev should stand as the governing body established the appropriate level of punishment for the incident. The discussion reflected broader questions about consistency in sanctions and how closely the outcomes align with public expectations for player conduct in domestic competition. (Attribution: Metaratings.ru)