Russian football leaders informed of riots during Wednesday match in Ingushetia
VLADIKAVKAZ. Oct 24 (Sport-Express/Interfax) - The leaders of the Russian Football Union and the Federal National League have been informed about details of riots that broke out at a Nazran stadium during a Federal National League football match between Angusht Nazran (Ingushetia) and Alania Vladikavkaz (North Ossetia) on Wednesday, and an account of the events is set out in the final report of the match, Alania's head coach Vladimir Gazzayev says.
"It's difficult to talk about football when such lawlessness occurs on the stands," Vladimir Gazzayev said.
"So-called fans of Angusht swarmed to the field during halftime, and our modest support group was pelted with rocks and bottles from the stands. Law enforcement officials had to escort Alania fans under the stands, closer to our lockers," he said.
Media reported that Angusht fans started throwing rocks at the section where about 30 Alania fans were sitting, and some 200 people attempted to assault them.
The Alania manager confirmed that his players refused to appear on the pitch for the second half, and it is only due to Alania President Valery Gazzayev's actions that made it possible to resume the game.
"What football can be played in such an utterly hostile atmosphere? But thanks to the Alania president's actions, the incident was stifled. Valery Georgiyevich [Gazzayev] demanded security guarantees for Alania fans. And at his proposal, during halftime, which lasted more than 40 minutes, our fans were transported to Vladikavkaz in two armored vehicles," he said.
"In order to avoid new incidents and divert rioting thugs' attention, our team still appeared on the field, but playing normal football was already out of the question, as there was no longer the right attitude. The same, by the way, concerns the referee. Under the pressure of the stands, he started making mistakes during the second half. In particular, he did not venture to award [Alania] a hundred-percent penalty kick on Dudiyev," he said.
By scoring in the second half, Angusht won 1-0.
