The Disciplinary Committee of the Russian Football Union (RFU) rejected a protest filed by Spartak Moscow following their Russian Super Cup match against Zenit Saint Petersburg. The game, which ended in a 1-1 draw with Zenit prevailing 4-2 in the penalty shootout, was contested by Spartak on the grounds of a refereeing error.

Spartak’s appeal centered on the penalty shootout procedure, specifically criticizing referee Evgeny Bulanov for not conducting the customary coin toss to determine which goal would be used for the penalty kicks. Instead, Bulanov unilaterally selected the goal for safety reasons, a decision Spartak argued compromised the fairness of the shootout and sought a replay of the match. However, the RFU committee dismissed the protest, upholding the original result.

In addition to the protest decision, the RFU imposed several fines related to disciplinary violations during the match. Zenit’s forward Alexander Sobolev was fined 30,000 rubles for provocative behavior that was deemed to threaten public order inside the stadium.

The Zenit team itself was fined 100,000 rubles for unsportsmanlike conduct, which included receiving six yellow cards throughout the match. Further penalties for Zenit amounted to 75,000 rubles: 25,000 for offensive chants by their supporters and 50,000 for the mass entry of substitutes and team personnel onto the field near the match's conclusion.

Spartak faced fines totaling 195,000 rubles for incidents involving fans throwing objects onto the field, the mass entry of their substitutes and staff onto the pitch, and the use of offensive chants by their supporters.

These rulings follow increased scrutiny of disciplinary issues in Russian football matches, particularly regarding crowd behavior and adherence to game regulations. The decision to reject Spartak’s protest confirms the RFU’s position on the rules governing match procedures and highlights ongoing efforts to maintain order during high-profile domestic competitions.