WATCH Russian players punished over champagne binge following Euro 2016 exit
Midfielder Pavel Mamayev and forward Alexander Kokorin allegedly splashed some €250,000 (HK$2.1 million) on 500 bottles of champagne at a night club in Monaco
Two Russian national team players have been punished by their clubs after video of them at a champagne-fuelled party in Monaco following the squad’s dismal exit from Euro 2016 sparked outrage.
Russian media reported that midfielder Pavel Mamayev and forward Alexander Kokorin allegedly splashed some €250,000 (HK$2.1 million) on 500 bottles of champagne for revellers at a night club in Monaco.
Shaky internet footage of event that went viral showed waiters carrying dozens of bottles of bubbly with sparklers attached to them as the Russian national anthem blared out in the background.
Kokorin’s club FC Zenit Saint Petersburg said that they had demoted him to the reserves while Mamayev’s team FC Krasnodar announced he would be training with the youth squad. Both players were also fined.
“Unfortunately, Russian footballers often get themselves into scandalous situations because they lack a sense of restraint and culture of how to behave in public places,” Zenit said in a statement.
