Footballer's apologies for "Akhmat" players coincide with political situation in Chechnya

Lechi Sadulaev, a footballer of the "Akhmat" FC, has apologized for the brawl with players of the "Lokomotiv" FC not on his own initiative; it was a political decision of Chechen authorities, Akhmet Yarlykapov, a Caucasian expert, and Svetlana Gannushkina, a human rights defender, have suggested.

Mr Yarlykapov believes that Chechen authorities chose Sadulaev for apologizing on behalf of the entire club.

Ms Gannushkina, head of the "Civil Assistance" Committee, has a similar opinion.

During the "Akhmat" vs. "Lokomotiv" match, law enforcers failed to intervene in the brawl, not wanting to politicize the conflict, Alexei Malashenko, a political analyst, and Ruslan Kutaev, the head of the Assembly of Caucasian Nations, assert.

There is nothing exceptional in the footballer's apology, says Alexei Durnovo, a commentator with the "Telesport" channel: "You gave vent to your emotions, used your fists; and the next morning you felt ashamed and you apologize. It's normal". He has noted that in such cases, European footballers are also publicly apologizing.

Magomed Batyrov, a "Match-TV" journalist, has praised Sadulaev's deed. "The footballer acted like a man: I honour and praise the man who has realized his mistake and repented," the journalist believes.