Eduard Maly surrounded by FC Moscow and Zenit players (Image from fc-zenit.ru)
Russia’s Premier League denied first ever replay
Published 18 July, 2009, 10:41
FC Moscow won’t have a chance to replay their match against Zenit, which they lost 1-0 due to a refereeing blunder last weekend.
The disciplinary committee of the Russian Football Union (RFU) has declined the complaint the Muscovites filed after the game in St Pete, Sportbox.ru reports.
FC Moscow made claims as to the quality of the refereeing by Eduard Maly, but according to the RFU and FIFA rules, this can’t be grounds for a re-match, Disciplinary Committee member Vladimir Katkov explained.
The moment in question came in the 75th minute, following a foul in a box by Zenit's Pavel Pogrebnyak when the St Petersburg men were 1-0 up.
FC Moscow Aleksandr Samedov misfired from the spot, but the rebound went to Aleksandr Sheshshukov, who slotted the ball home. However, referee Maly judged that a player had entered the box before the penalty was taken, and ruled a free kick to Zenit.
The football rule book says a re-take of the penalty must be awarded in that situation.
After the game, Eduard Maly himself admitted he’d made a mistake.
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