Khimki head coach Sergey Yuran believes that the situation with the ball-fight that occurred in the first match for the right to retain a place in the RPL against SKA-Khabarovsk was prepared in advance.

In the match, which took place on May 25 in Khabarovsk, Khimki goalkeeper Ilya Lantratov pushed the ball-boy away, for which he was later fined 50 thousand rubles.

– The situation with Lantratov and the ball-boy is not rude stupidity?

– I reviewed all these episodes and I can say that this provocation with a ball-boy was prepared in advance.

– How did you understand?

– After the first half we lost 0:1. Knowing my character and Khimki’s style of play, it would be logical to assume that we will attack throughout the second half. Accordingly, almost all journalists and photojournalists went beyond the gates of SKA. But the press officer remained behind the gates of Khimki. Do you think it’s just that? A teenage ball-boy during the match did not give Ilya the ball several times, and the guy with the camera stood ready. The fact that Lantratov could not stand it and went to take the ball away is natural in this situation. As soon as he ran up to him, the camera immediately turned on, which filmed how this ball-boy makes incredible somersaults. Grigalava’s nerves had already lost their nerve there. It was a provocation that worked.

SKA understood that it would be difficult for them to compete with Khimki in a sporting way, so they decided to use methods with calls to the players’ numbers and a ball fight. Thanks to the FTC for soberly assessing the situation and not punishing Ilya. I have been working with him for a long time, he never showed aggression. It was an athletic rage. At the same time, Ilya did not beat him, but simply took the ball, ”Sport24 quotes Yuran as saying.

After two starting rounds this season, Khimki are in fifth place with 4 points.