Archive · 2018 · From the print edition of Monday 14 May 2018, Vol. 26, No. 7,879
SportTulpar owner confronts referee after derby defeat
Adil Toktarov shouted at the referee in the Silk Road Arena tunnel after Tulpar lost 2-1 at home to Neftchi. The league says it has received no complaint.
TALAS — Adil Toktarov, whose Talas Commercial Development Group owns Tulpar Talas, shouted at the referee in the tunnel of the Silk Road Arena after Saturday's home derby defeat to Neftchi Nurzhan, according to several people who were there. Tulpar lost 2-1 to a goal in stoppage time.
Witnesses said Mr. Toktarov came down from the club box at the final whistle and confronted the referee as the officials left the pitch, complaining about the free kick from which the winning goal came. Stewards stood between them, and the referee was escorted to the officials' room. Nobody was touched, the witnesses said.
The Irad League said it had received no complaint and that the referee's report "contains nothing that requires action". Tulpar declined to comment. A spokesman for the development group said Mr. Toktarov had "expressed the disappointment every supporter felt".
Neftchi's win leaves the Nurzhan club three points clear at the top of the table. Its supporters, about 2,000 of whom made the journey, sang in the away end for half an hour after the match.