Spartak’s Brazilian star striker Welliton has been handed a six-game ban after a clash in last month’s Moscow derby left CSKA and Russian goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev out for six months.
The affair was discussed on Wednesday at a meeting of the Russian Football Union Executive, to which all members of the disciplinary committee were invited.
For rough play that resulted in a serious injury to Russia’s top goalkeeper, Spartak’s Brazilian striker was disqualified for six games – the maximum possible punishment – meaning he will be able to appear on the pitch no sooner than late October. The RFU has also taken into account that Welliton has already been involved in a similar incident. Back in 2009, he injured Dynamo Moscow keeper Vladimir Gabulov, who had to miss almost a year due to a serious head injury.
After the latest collision with Welliton, Akinfeev had to be carried from the pitch on a stretcher. Later it was reported the keeper has torn his left knee ligaments. On Wednesday, Akinfeev was successfully operated on, while doctors say his rehabilitation will take around six months.
Meanwhile, Spartak executive director and head coach Valery Karpin has called the ruling a nonsense, saying that this was a simple casualty. Karpin added that the club is preparing papers for a formal appeal, though he does not have any illusions about its success.