“If they strengthen the national team, everyone will be happy”: how Russia reacted to the release of Kokorin and Mamaev by parole

"Humane measure"

On September 17, Zenit striker Alexander Kokorin and Krasnodar midfielder Pavel Mamaev will be released on parole (parole). The decision of the Alekseevsky District Court of the Belgorod Region was extremely positively received by the majority of Russian officials, specialists, athletes and fans, who had been worried about their fate for 11 months. They expressed confidence that the players have recovered and are ready to start a new life.

So, according to the deputy chairman of the State Duma committee on physical education, sports, tourism and youth affairs Valery Gazzayev, a positive outcome of the story was expected.

“Both Mamaev and Kokorin fully felt the criminal punishment system. I hope this will be a life lesson for them. Therefore, parole release is quite logical. They are quite experienced players. And they will have double motivation in order to truly overcome this whole crisis and return to football, ”Gazzaev said in an interview with RT.

A similar position was expressed by a member of the State Duma committee on physical education, sports, tourism and youth affairs Dmitry Svishchev. He added that after release, both players should behave more carefully than before.

“I believe that the release of Alexander Kokorin and Pavel Mamayev on parole is a humane measure. During the time that the athletes were in custody, they showed remorse for the deed. I think that the players got a lesson for life. I wish them to return to the big sport. It is important that this whole story becomes a good lesson for young people. No money, connections and fame can be an excuse for committing unlawful acts against anyone, ”Sport-Express quotes Svishchev.

Former Lokomotiv midfielder Dmitry Tarasov was also satisfied with the court decision. According to him, he had already talked with the relatives of the convicts and congratulated them on the end of the case.

“No one can describe how a mother feels, having lost two sons for such a time. The emotions of Dasha (wife of Kokorin. - RT ), who was alone with the child, also can not be described. I don’t wish anyone like that. Alan Chochiev and I did everything possible. I want the guys to return to football, ”Tarasova quotes the“ Championship ”.

In addition, joy at the conditional release of players through social networks was expressed by Zenit head coach Sergei Semak, wife of defender Yuri Zhirkov Inna, Baltika midfielder Alan Chochiev and others.

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My gold home !!! ❤️ @ kokorin9 @ kokorin7

Publication from Pray and Go Forward ... (@ chochiev.17) Sep 6, 2019 at 12:34 pm PDT

At the same time, there were those who were skeptical of the court decision. So, the former president of Spartak Andrei Chervichenko doubted that Kokorin and Mamaev fully realized their guilt.

“How do they differ from ordinary Russians? Everyone once does wrongful acts. Someone has less punishment, and someone more. Have departed their own - thank God. They didn’t kill anyone - that’s good too. Well, if it will be the first and last time. But judging by the jokes and funny faces, not everything in their heads settled down, and this can certainly happen again, ”Chervichenko said.

Ex-doctor of Spartak Liu Hongsheng stressed that such crimes should be more severely punished in China.

“Pak is a Korean, and a Russian is Korean. This is nationalism. We are all Russians. After all, I have a Russian passport, which means that I do too. You can not insult people on a national basis. They also hit him with a chair. For this in China, Kokorin and Mamaev would have been sentenced to three years in prison, ”the Soviet Sport specialist quotes.

"Clubs do not look at moral aspects"

After the appearance of information about the satisfaction of the application for parole, the main topic for discussion was the sports future of Kokorin and Mamaev. Many suggested that they would not only be able to return to their previous level, but also help the national team.

“Cherchesov takes to the team those who play really well. If they prove themselves, then the gates to the team will not be closed. But now you need to gain a foothold in the clubs. If they strengthen the national team, everyone will be only happy. I don’t think that Stanislav Salamovich will say: “You behaved badly, so I don’t take you,” said Andrei Sozin, member of the Ethics Committee of the Russian Football Union (RFU).

Mikhail Degtyarev, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Physical Culture for Sports, Tourism and Youth Affairs, expressed confidence that most football fans would be happy to see Kokorin and Mamaev again in the national team.

“I think the guys have to regain shape, go back to their previous sports level, continue their careers. They, as before, enjoy the support of a significant part of the fans. In the future, Kokorin and Mamaev will be able to benefit domestic sports and, with time, restore their reputation with their game, ”the Championship said.

As for club prospects, here the situations around the two players differ. Zenit CEO Alexander Medvedev said he intends to meet with Kokorin in the near future to discuss his future. Throughout the process, the team supported him, in connection with which it is assumed that a new contract will be concluded with him.

Former Italy midfielder and blue-white-blue Claudio Marchisio admitted that he would be happy if Kokokin returns to his former team.

“I am very happy that Alexander is free. He always said that he is a very talented player, even to Italian journalists. If he can return to football and help Zenit, I will be very happy, ”admitted Marchisio.

Some fans have doubts about whether Kokorin will be able to join the current champion of the country after closing the transfer window. The RPL hastened to assure that the club has the opportunity to re-announce the player within 30 days after the end of the registration period.

This information was confirmed by RT sports lawyer Mikhail Prokopets.

“However, the club must submit an application for its registration to the Committee on the Status of RFU Players in the first 14 days of the indicated period, respectively, until September 16 inclusive. After that, if all documents are approved, by October 2, he must be declared. That is, two conditions must be met, ”said Prokopets.

In addition, he added that Kokorin could sign a new contract with Zenit while in the colony.

“There is no clause in the legislation according to which a person serving a sentence in prison loses the right to sign official documents. They can write petitions, complaints, appeals, but what is the difference between a labor sentence? If the club is not opposed to the fact that he will begin to perform his duties later, then what is the problem? Theoretically, he can put his signature on the contract even tomorrow. By the way, Pavel Mamayev’s employment contract after being sent to prison did not cease to be valid. Based on the logic, no one bothers to conclude him and Kokorin, ”concluded the lawyer.

As for Mamaev, Krasnodar has not yet given up its intention to terminate the contract with him. In the RFU reported that in connection with the premature release of a football player to freedom, a meeting on this issue will be held at the end of September. At the same time, ex-midfielder Roman Shirokov criticized the leadership of the southerners for this decision.

“If Krasnodar refuses it, it will be a new saga. First you need to go out, stay with relatives and friends, and then think about where to go. Maybe they will change their minds and decide that the player who has done a lot for them is worthy of a second chance. This is a difficult moment, why are you turning away from him? Thus, the club makes poor public relations for itself, ”said Shirokov.

In turn, the football agent Dmitry Selyuk suggested that if Krasnodar refuses to provide midfielder services, he is unlikely to have problems with employment.

“Regarding my words that Mamaev practically finished with football. In Europe, that would be so. And in Russia, many clubs do not look at any moral aspects. Some groups may want to do a PR campaign on this, which Mamaev will use, if not a fool. He is also a guy with character, and he will want to show the same “Krasnodar” that they have in vain terminated the contract with him, ”noted Selyuk.

At the same time, the Honorary President of the RFU Vyacheslav Koloskov noted that the full return of the players to the sport will take place no earlier than next year and will depend only on them.

“They will be able to play this season after a winter break. Then it will really be done at a decent level. There were examples when football players spent more time in prison, and they returned, played after a seven-year break, became the best in the championship, and played for the national team. Nothing is lost. They didn’t work in mines in the colony in order not to be able to return to big sport later, ”Koloskov shared his opinion with RIA Novosti.