Zarema Salikhova, the spouse of Leonid Fedun who led Spartak Moscow as president for many years, has weighed in on remarks made by Vladimir Bystrov, a former player for Petersburg Zenit. Bystrov had previously suggested that Spartak suffers from what he called a “Zarema disease” because Salikhova regularly critiques refereeing decisions.
Salikhova argued that until the leadership of Gazprom in the Russian Football Union stops pressuring referees, qualified game officials will not fully emerge and the broader football ecosystem will remain unsettled. She asserted that the RFU’s key performance indicators have been tied to Zenit’s two stars and that the federation leadership appears to have already moved beyond basic measures, suggesting a broader, five-plus level of expectations in the governance of the sport.
Meanwhile, Leonid Fedun, who has led Spartak since 2004 and guided the club to a Russian league title in the 2016/17 season and the National Cup in 2021/22, stepped down from the club’s board of directors in August 2022 after Lukoil acquired a controlling stake in the team. The club continues to compete in the Premier League, pursuing success under its current management while maintaining a long history of domestic achievements.
With four rounds remaining in the current season, Spartak sits in fourth place in the Russian Premier League, accumulating 49 points under Guillermo Abascal. Zenit Saint Petersburg led the table with 64 points, securing the championship ahead of schedule, while CSKA Moscow and Rostov remain in the pursuit of top positions with 51 and 50 points respectively.
In related commentary, Salikhova has previously addressed questions about her interactions with the Zenit camp, clarifying her stance on developments at Zenit and the broader dynamics between the clubs and their supporters and officials. Her public statements continue to shape discussions around refereeing decisions, governance, and the operational direction of Russian football institutions.