Russia: Trial in opposition to 13 referees – Russia’s secret service uncovers scandal | EUROtoday

Russian investigators have opened felony proceedings in opposition to 13 referees for bribery and influencing leads to favor of the Torpedo Moscow soccer membership. The “results of at least 22 games played in the Moscow region and other regions of the Russian Federation were unlawfully influenced,” Interior Ministry spokeswoman Irina Wolk advised Telegram. The accused face penalties of as much as seven years in jail.

There have been unlawful agreements and subsequent illegal transfers of cash, stated Wolk. In addition to investigators from the Interior Ministry, workers of the home secret service FSB have been additionally concerned within the investigation.

Charges have already been introduced in opposition to the accused. Although they’re free below sure situations, they have to stay at their place of residence. Wolk stated the investigation was ongoing. The Russian newspaper “Sport-Express” additionally printed a lot of the names of the accused.

Co-owner of Torpedo Moscow obtained the ball rolling

The Russian Football Federation (RFS) introduced that the accused referees had been expelled and that there had been a correction to the line-up for the present season. “The RFS cannot allow people who are under investigation to take part in the games – this is a question of trust in football,” stated the chairman of the referee committee, Pavel Kamantsev. If she is later confirmed harmless, her reinstatement shall be mentioned.

In the summer season of 2025, felony proceedings had already been initiated in opposition to the previous basic director of Torpedo Moscow, Valery Skorodumov, and the Moscow membership’s former co-owner, Leonid Sobolev, for making an attempt to unlawfully affect the membership’s video games within the First League. According to Russian media, Sobolev confessed to bribing referees.