Torpedo co-owner partially admits guilt in referee bribery case
In short
A co-owner of the Moscow football club Torpedo has partially admitted guilt in a referee bribery case, according to the state news agencies TASS and RIA Novosti. RBC, which identified him as Leonid Sobolev, reported that the case is being heard by the Simonovsky court and that 13 referees are also involved. RBC added that the club's former general director, Skorodumov, was previously sentenced to two years in a penal colony.
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A co-owner of the Moscow football club Torpedo has partially admitted guilt in a case over the bribery of referees, TASS and RIA Novosti reported, citing the court hearing. Both state news agencies published the report at 12:07 local time and did not name the defendant. [ 1 , 2 ]
RBC later identified the co-owner as Leonid Sobolev and said the case is being heard by the Simonovsky court. According to RBC, 13 referees are also defendants in the case, and the club's former general director, Skorodumov, was previously sentenced to two years in a penal colony. Neither TASS nor RIA Novosti provided those details. [ 3 ]
Why it matters
The case involves a co-owner of a Moscow club and, according to RBC, 13 referees, which indicates the proceedings extend beyond a single official. A former general director of the same club has already been sentenced to a prison term, suggesting further hearings and rulings are likely. The documents do not say whether any match results or the club itself are affected.
Key facts
- A co-owner of the Moscow football club Torpedo partially admitted guilt in a referee bribery case in court. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- RBC named the co-owner as Leonid Sobolev. [ 3 ]
- The case is being heard by the Simonovsky court. [ 3 ]
- Thirteen referees are also defendants in the case, according to RBC. [ 3 ]
- The club's former general director, Skorodumov, was previously sentenced to two years in a penal colony. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- The identity of the co-owner who admitted guilt. Only RBC names him as Leonid Sobolev; TASS and RIA Novosti do not name the defendant.
- Which charges the co-owner admitted and which he contests. The documents say only that the admission was partial and give no breakdown of the charges.
- The legal status of the 13 referees reported as defendants. Only RBC mentions them, and it does not say whether they have been charged, tried or sentenced.