The match between the football clubs “Aktobe” and “Ordabasy”, which ended with a score of 1:3, caused a scandal due to the behaviour of the fans. Aktobe fans were demanded to be held accountable for possible incitement of ethnic hatred, and the club itself — to be disqualified.
WHAT HAPPENED AT THE STADIUM
As reported by the Telegram channel “HALYQSTAN”, the cause of the outrage was a poster with offensive inscriptions and the flag of Uzbekistan, which was held by two girls.
At the same time, the police officers ensuring order at the stadium did not demand that the poster be removed.
After the match, a group of Aktobe fans also chanted “Өзбектер!” (“Uzbeks!”).
LAWYER APPLIED TO THE PROSECUTOR GENERAL’S OFFICE
Shymkent lawyer Aiankhan Omarov reported that he had sent an application to the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Republic of Kazakhstan asking for a legal assessment of the fans’ actions.
In his opinion, what happened may fall under Article 174 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan (“Incitement of social, national, clan, racial, estate or religious hatred”).
The article provides for a fine of up to 7,000 MCI, restriction or deprivation of liberty for a term of two to seven years.
The lawyer also suggested that the fans’ actions may have been aimed at humiliating Shymkent residents because of an alleged connection with Uzbek nationality.
HOW UZBEKISTAN REACTED
As a source reports, Uzbek blogger Fatkhulla Khairullaev criticised the fans’ behaviour and demanded that the two girls holding the poster be held accountable.
He also called on the Kazakhstan Football Federation (KFF) to officially comment on what happened.
At the time of publication of the report, there were no official comments from the KFF.
