A stabbed Alga player, an alleged threatening recording and claims involving drugs, forced military deployment and contract termination have triggered serious questions in Kyrgyz football.
Serious allegations have emerged involving Jogorku Liga side Alga Bishkek after claims the club is attempting to terminate Aleksey Lobov’s contract while he recovers from a stabbing.
Aletheia Alliance, which says it has represented football stakeholders and others for 12 years, reports that Lobov was attacked by an unidentified individual in Bishkek during the night of August 13-14.
According to the organisation, the attacker stabbed the Ukrainian before fleeing the scene.
Two operations
Lobov reportedly suffered a penetrating stab wound to the abdomen which damaged his stomach. He also suffered internal bleeding and haemorrhagic shock.
He underwent emergency surgery on August 14.
However, complications later required a second operation. He is said to remain in rehabilitation.
Meanwhile, Lobov’s contract with Alga runs until November 30, 2027.
Despite his condition, Aletheia claims the club has begun taking steps towards terminating his employment while he remains unable to play.
The Recording
Aletheia also published an audio recording on September 28.
The recording features a conversation between an unidentified Alga player and a man the organisation identifies as club director Emil Kutmanov.
Kutmanov is also a current member of the Executive Committee of the Kyrgyz Football Union.
The recording was shared with Aletheia’s Telegram followers as part of its report into the dispute.
However, Eurasia Football has not independently authenticated the identity of the speaker alleged to be Kutmanov.
During the conversation, the speaker makes a series of apparent threats while discussing players who had sought legal assistance.
At one stage, the speaker suggests that one individual could be detained over an allegation involving prohibited substances.
He then discusses Lobov and says he could be recognised as a member of an organised criminal group.
The speaker also says Lobov’s visa could be cancelled before adding: “I’ll send him to Ukraine. He’ll fight there.”
Later, while speaking to the unidentified player about his use of lawyers, the same speaker says: “I’ll make sure you quit football.”
Towards the end of the recording, the player refers to support from a players’ union in Kyrgyzstan.
The speaker then asks whether he should contact the union’s president before saying: “Forget about this player. We’ll bury him here.”
FIFPro contacted
Aletheia says it has sent an urgent appeal to international players’ union FIFPro.
The group also says it provided FIFPro with the audio recording.
In addition, it has reserved the right to seek disciplinary proceedings against Kutmanov through football authorities.
It may also refer the matter to law enforcement.
Among the sanctions sought is a lifetime ban for Kutmanov from football-related activity.
The allegations have not at this stage been independently substantiated by Eurasia Football, while no finding of wrongdoing against Kutmanov has been established.