Former footballer of the Russian national team Roman Shirokov for the first time commented in detail on the criminal case brought against him after beating the referee Nikita Danchenkov.
The ex-Zenit player told in an interview to journalist Vasily Konov about how the investigation is going and how this incident affected his life.
Shirokov noted that he is now at large and does not experience any difficulties in connection with the case initiated under Article 115 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ("Intentional infliction of minor harm to health").
He explained the attack on Danchenkov during an amateur match with an emotional breakdown.
“I move around calmly, I don't register with the police.
There could be no other, but I am assisting the investigation, I am not running away, I admitted my guilt, I apologized.
So why impose any sanctions on me?
I had an emotional breakdown caused by unqualified refereeing.
Of course, this should not have happened, but for some reason it happened.
I have no explanation.
It never happened, and here it is again.
I don’t know, just emotions on the pitch because of the clean penalty, ”the footballer said.
Shirokov noted that he no longer remembers the content of the conversation with Danchenkov, because of which the conflict arose.
He also admitted that he tried to talk to the referee in the following days, but he did not make contact.
“I tried to talk, but he did not pick up the phone.
There were no calls from me, because they cannot be received if you do not pick up the phone.
The next day I called four times, but Danchenkov did not answer.
Then, as I understand it, he was fenced off from outside calls.
The lawyer and I do not yet know what the injured party wants, no claims have been filed.
We have a lot of rich people in our country, this does not mean that everyone is ready to come at once and give many millions as they want, "said the former Zenit and Spartak player.
The footballer said that after this incident, his family had to face a wave of negativity on social networks.
He also named the best punishment for himself and told how he ended up among the participants in the Moscow Celebrity Cup tournament, where a scandalous incident took place.
“A fine would be fair, of course.
I continue to play in amateur tournaments, only this particular one is no longer there.
I did not plan to participate at all, it was my son who asked me, because he needed to take a photo with someone.
I do not often return to that day, it is better to forget such moments.
My apologies on Instagram were sincere, and I apologized at the confrontation.
I immediately said that this was not a very good act, which should not have happened, but it happened, ”added Shirokov.
Danchenkov's lawyer Alexander Ostrovsky says that he recommended the client not to communicate with his offender.
He also confirmed that the injured party has not yet decided on the requirements for the former footballer, with whom they will go to court.
“I don't know if he called Nikita.
We simply did not recommend Danchenkov to communicate with Roman.
During that period, Nikita did not take calls from unknown numbers.
Shirokov said that not everyone is ready to give away many millions, as we want?
And no one wants anything and has not offered anything.
We haven't even prepared a civil suit yet.
The statement was simple: if he wants compensation, he must apply through respected people, ”the lawyer said to the Championship.
Ostrovsky also said that it is impossible to re-qualify the charge for a more serious article on attempted murder.
“The case was sent to the Moscow city prosecutor’s office, and from there it will be sent to the 105th World Judicial District under the article on minor bodily injuries from hooligan motives.
We tried to get a case under the article on attempted murder, but we received no intelligible answer either from the Investigative Committee or from the prosecutor's office, ”the lawyer said.
So far, the case of Roman Shirokov has not been submitted to court.
In October, a confrontation took place between him and Nikita Danchenkov, at which the former captain of the Russian national team provided his testimony.
He claimed that the referee provoked the attack by his unprofessional refereeing.
“I can say with confidence that it was Danchenkov's answers and (or) specific actions to my remarks regarding his unprofessional refereeing that at that moment I was very emotionally hurt and insulted, in connection with which I emotionally underwent a sharp resentment towards him and committed an unacceptable act that should not have been committed, ”Shirokov said to the minutes.
The ex-Zenit player at the confrontation also accused Danchenkov of arrogance and rude responses to him.
Commenting on the circumstances of the attack, Shirokov argued that he did not want to hurt the referee and at first was going to hit him with his palm to express disagreement with his decisions.
About the kick in the face of the referee, the football player said that he wanted to get in the stomach, but missed due to the fact that Danchenkov pushed him away.