In Grozny, football match again raises problem of spectators' forced attendance

Today, Grozny will host a match between the local "Akhmat" FC and the team of the "Zenith" FC from Saint Petersburg. Local students have reported that the higher educational institutions' administrations obliged them to appear at the stadium.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Grozny students reported about being obliged to participate as fans in a match of October 30 between the "Akhmat" and Dagestani "Anji" FCs. The institutions' administrations promised not to admit to exams and even expel those who failed to come to the match.

Today, a match within the 20th round of the Russian Football Professional League between the football teams of the "Akhmat" and "Zenith" FCs will be held at the "Akhmat Arena" Stadium, able to accommodate 30,000 spectators.

"Agents of the dean's office will be waiting for students at the stadium, and they will register those who come. We were threatened to be not admitted to exams for failure to appear at the stadium," noted student Adam.

There are separate sectors in the stadium for every enterprise, agency and higher educational institution, report sources from Chechnya.

"It is expected to send a certain number of employees to football matches to ensure the grandstands are full. If the stadium expects visits of guests, top-ranking officials and supervisors, the grandstands should be 100-percent full," noted Lom-Ali, an employee of a Chechen public institution.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.