Zenit's Dong-Jin Kim (R) (Image from fc-zenit.ru)
Zenit escape technical defeat
Published 22 April, 2009, 16:59
Zenit was lucky to escape the harshest punishment for breaking the limit on foreign players during a clash with Lokomotiv last Sunday. The team will pay a fine, but the score of the game won’t be annulled.
The Saint Petersburgers feared they may face a 3-0 technical defeat after they fielded a total of seven foreign players at once – one more than allowed under Russia’s Premier League rules.
The game at Moscow’s Lokomotiv stadium ended with a 1-all draw. Zenit went in front midway through the second half, but failed to maintain the lead until the final whistle.
Russia’s football officials, who held a meeting on Wednesday, decided Saint Petersburg should be fined 500,000 roubles (around $ 15,000).
Lokomotiv press-service said the club is going to appeal against the decision.
Zenit's administrator Vladislav Radimov, who finished his player career last year, said the blooper was primarily his fault.
“The blame is on me,” he said, talking to Sport Express newspaper. “Coach Dick Advoocat, his assistant Bert van Lingen, and I are responsible for the issue, but I am the only Russian speaker among the three, so I think it’s my fault”.
Spartak Moscow was also fined 500,000 roubles. The Moscow club was punished for a racist banner their fans brought to the stadium during a match with Spartak Nalchik from Southern Russia’s republic of Kabardino-Balkaria.
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