A star Russian football player has sparked national outrage this week after stepping out of his Mercedes at a traffic light to beat up a pedestrian who had bumped against his car.
The victim is reportedly a U.S. citizen who is working as a translator in Russia's capital.
The incident took place in the aftermath of a scandal involving two other Russian footballers — Alexander Kokorin and Pavel Mamaev — who are currently on trial for assaulting a man in a cafe and hitting him over the head with a chair while making comments about his Asian appearance.
In the latest incident, FC Spartak Moscow midfielder Ayaz Guliyev, 22, drove his Mercedes car through a crosswalk while pedestrians were crossing the street late Wednesday evening, the Moskovsky Komsomolets tabloid reported.
As seen in a video posted online, one of the pedestrians, who media identified as Michael Coe John Eli, brushed up against the moving Mercedes — after which Guliyev jumped out of the car, chased after him and hit repeatedly from behind.
Guliyev reportedly later told police that Eli had caused the fight because he had “hit” the car first.
Eli, whose nose was fractured and bloodied during the altercation, refused to go to the hospital, Moskovsky Komsomolets reported. He and Guliyev drove to the police station together, where Guliyev, perhaps remembering Kokorin and Mamaev’s trial, apologized and offered to pay the American’s medical fees.
While police took the footballer's driver’s license away, Eli reportedly pressed no charges.
Guliyev’s Mercedes has been involved in more than 200 traffic incidents, mostly involving speeding, since it was purchased late last year, according to the tabloid.
The footballer issued a public apology on Spartak's website on Friday.
"I acted aggressively and admit my guilt," he was cited as saying, before extending his apology to the victim, his football club and its fans.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
