The RFU canceled the penalty to the Torpedo coach Clotet, who called the referee a “clown”

The Appeals Committee of the Russian Football Union (RFU) canceled the fine to Torpedo coach Josep Clotet, reported RFU press office. The specialist’s disqualification remained in effect. The Control and Disciplinary Committee (CDC) of the RFU applied sanctions to the coach after the match of the 23rd round of Torpedo – Spartak, during which Mr. Clotet committed offensive behavior towards the chief referee.

The incident happened at the end of the first half. After Spartak converted a penalty against Torpedo, Josep Clotet was outraged by the refereeing and, according to “Match TV”, called the chief referee Pavel Shadykhanov a “clown”. That penalty was the third in the game (all three were assigned to the Torpedo goal).

The referee showed the Spanish specialist a straight red card. Later, on April 19, the FTC gave him a two-match disqualification and a fine of 200,000 rubles. Mr Clotet challenged all the sanctions in the Appeal Commission.

“Satisfy the complaint of the head coach of FC Torpedo Moscow, Moscow, Clotet Ruiz Josep, against the decision of the RFU Control and Disciplinary Committee dated April 19, 2023, in part … Disqualify for 2 matches of the Russian Championship,” the commission decided.

Mr. Clotet has already missed one match of Torpedo due to the suspension. The coach was not on the bench during the Torpedo game against Khimki (2:4) in the 24th round of the RPL. The Avtozavodtsy will have to do without a mentor in the match of the 25th round against Sochi on April 30.

Grigory Leiba