# Zenit (Russian Football) "pitch invasion" **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [May 11, 2014, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zenit-russian-football-pitch-invasion/688189 "2014-05-11T14:46:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2014, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zenit-russian-football-pitch-invasion/688189/1 "2014-05-11T14:46:43Z")
Fans jump on field and punch Vladimir Granat, the Captain and goalkeeper of Moscow Dinamo, after first place Zenit get clobbered 4-2 (wasn’t that close). Game “abandoned” [At least the Zenit’s new coach is pictured on the pitch trying to calm things](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2625563/Zenit-St-Petersburg-fan-punches-Dinamo-Moscows-Vladimir-Granat-Andre-Villas-Boas-tries-calm-pitch-invaders.html?ico=sport%5Eheadlines) (If the Daily Fail link doesn’t work, google “Zenit Granat”. It’ll be everywhere. I am a Zenit fan (expat NYer Met Fan). This is a disgrace to not only Zenit, but as the world sees it - Russian Football in general. This may doom Russia hosting the World Cup in 2018. ---
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2014, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zenit-russian-football-pitch-invasion/688189/2 "2014-05-11T14:54:51Z")
Too late for edit window: [BBC link](http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/27363393) BBC is typically better for keeping links and content. ---
**Author:** ![blindboyard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blindboyard/32/2833_2.png) [@blindboyard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blindboyard)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2014, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zenit-russian-football-pitch-invasion/688189/3 "2014-05-11T16:30:48Z")
> [@Coriolanus](#): > > I am a Zenit fan (expat NYer Met Fan). This is a disgrace to not only Zenit, but as the world sees it - Russian Football in general. This may doom Russia hosting the World Cup in 2018. They paid their bribes, they get their world cup. No doubt. ---
**Author:** ![chizzuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chizzuk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chizzuk)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2014, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zenit-russian-football-pitch-invasion/688189/4 "2014-05-11T16:41:48Z")
If what’s happened in Brazil and Qatar is any indication, you have nothing to worry about re: losing the World Cup. Won’t happen. Massive protests, riots, fires, unfinished stadiums, slave labor, 120-degree heat, who cares? It’ll be fine. FIFA says so. Euro 2012 was in Poland/Ukraine. If we were in the run-up to that now with Ukraine in its current state, I _think_ UEFA would probably move it to Poland/Germany or something. But I’m not even sure of that. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2014, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zenit-russian-football-pitch-invasion/688189/5 "2014-05-11T17:27:54Z")
I agree with the last two posts. I was about to write “you have to kill somebody to lose the World Cup”, but given Qatar we know THAT isn’t true. ---
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2014, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zenit-russian-football-pitch-invasion/688189/6 "2014-05-15T18:20:41Z")
So the sanctions are: [Zenit St Petersburg punished for pitch invasion - BBC Sport](http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/27412987) Two closed door matches. And another bunch without the so-called “ultra” fans sections. And for some reason, the 4-2 match is now 3-0 forfeit. Whatever. The Russian Premier League closed out today. CSKA repeats. Zenit one point behind.