Probe Opened Into Zenit-Anzhi Brawl

The St. Petersburg Times

Published: August 29, 2012 (Issue # 1724)

St. Petersburg police have launched an investigation into a clash between fans of FC Zenit and fans of FC Anzhi at a McDonald’s outlet on Moskovsky Prospekt on Wednesday following a match between the two teams that left a Zenit fan in hospital.

Alexander Rumyantsev, also known as ‘Makasin’ and the leader of one of Zenit’s fan movements, was hospitalized in intensive care and operated on for injuries reportedly received during the game between Anzhi and Zenit in Anzhi’s home town of Makhachkala, Dagestan on Aug. 19, Interfax reported.

The following Wednesday, a mass fight broke out between Zenit and Anzhi fans on Moskovsky Prospekt. City police have opened an investigation into hooliganism over the incident.

Anzhi’s fans had gathered near Moskovskaya metro station last Wednesday to take a bus to Moscow to watch Anzhi’s match against the Netherlands’ FC Alkmaar scheduled for Thursday. Outside the nearby McDonald’s Anzhi’s fans were attacked by Zenit fans, seemingly in revenge for the alleged Anzhi fans’ attack on Zenit fans in Makhachkala four days earlier.

Windows in the McDonald’s cafe were broken during the struggle and the bus that was due to take the Anzhi fans to Moscow was also damaged.