The Russian Consulate General’s Office refuted media reports about an alleged attack on a bus with Zenit St. Petersburg football club’s fans in Istanbul following the match of the Europa League’s Round of 32 against Turkey’s Febnerbahce on Tuesday in Istanbul.
"We have checked allegations on a possible attack on a bus carrying Zenit St. Petersburg fans during the match day and this information turned out to be false," TASS cited spokesperson for the Russian Consulate General’s Office in Istanbul Lyudmila Sadykova as saying.
Earlier, UEFA has initiated disciplinary proceeding against Russian football club Zenit St. Petersburg.
Fenerbahce and Zenit played their first leg match of the UEFA Europa League’s Round of 32 on February 12 at the Sukru Saracoglu Arena in Istanbul. The only goal in the game was scored by Islam Slimani on the 21st minute of the game.
Following the match, the UEFA also opened disciplinary proceedings against hosts Fenerbahce FC on charges of "stairways blocked."
The return match between Fenerbahce and Zenit is scheduled to be played on February 21 in Russia’s second largest city of St. Petersburg.
