Pavel Kosov, a Spartak Moscow supporter, was convicted in 2018 for his role in the riot that took place during the 2016 European Championship in France. He has since returned to Russia and spoke about his initial emotions and impressions in an interview with Championship, offering a candid account of the moment he landed back home and what followed in those first days.
The journey back to his homeland was a tense ordeal. Kosov described it as a difficult transition, recounting that he almost missed his flight. He was running through the terminal, acutely aware there was one more leg of the journey to Sheremetyevo Airport, and he admits to being so preoccupied with the logistics that his thoughts barely touched the arrival in Russia. He says the flight itself was taxing, and while he feels present and in relatively good health, fatigue has built up over the long ordeal and the period of detention, creating a sense of weariness that continues to linger.
Looking back on the moment of release, Kosov stresses that there was little emotional response. A subtle sense of disorientation or even a feeling of numbness settled in. He describes a state of quiet exhaustion, a kind of prostration after the strain of endless waiting and the complexities surrounding his case. He also notes that there exists a segment of opinion that believes imprisonment was politically motivated, a belief he neither fully endorses nor disputes. He appreciates the public support he did receive but regrets that it did not arrive earlier, before or during the proceedings. Kosov notes that stronger, earlier support could have potentially accelerated the resolution of the matter and changed the pace of the legal process.
The events that led to Kosov and Mikhail Ivkin being taken into custody trace back to February 2018, when both men were arrested for taking part in the Marseille riots during Euro 2016. The incident occurred as the tournament’s group stage featured clashes following a match between Russia and England. In 2022, a French jury found them guilty of assaulting an England supporter in the aftermath of that game, cementing the consequences of their involvement in the turmoil surrounding the event.
Kosov received a sentence of ten years in prison, while Ivkin was sentenced to three years. Because time spent under investigation was counted toward the final sentences, Ivkin was deported back to Russia on January 1, 2021. Kosov, on the other hand, remained in France to complete his term. Reports later indicated that Kosov would be evacuated earlier, in February 2024, marking a potential turning point for both the individuals and the dynamics of ongoing cases connected to the incident.
In a separate note from the Spartak camp, a veteran expressed a desire to see Promes back on the field following the court decision. This sentiment reflects the broader hopes among fans that the team could regain momentum and focus after a period of controversy and legal proceedings. The broader implications for the club and its supporters, as well as the perception of justice in sports-related legal matters, remain part of the ongoing discussion among fans and analysts alike.