Kazakh national soccer team coach Stanislav Cherchesov sparked controversy by making a joke about the Kazakh language during a press conference following a game against Slovenia. When a journalist asked him a question in Kazakh on October 13, Cherchesov responded, “Are you now speaking French to me?” The comment drew backlash from people who accused him of disrespecting the state language. Adilet Barmenqulov, the president of the Football Federation of Kazakhstan, defended Cherchesov, explaining that the coach's joke was tied to the journalist’s French football jersey. However, sports commentator Bekasyl Seiitkhan, who asked the question, called the joke inappropriate. This is not the first time Cherchesov, a Russian national, has faced criticism over language issues. Despite enrolling in a Kazakh-language course, his remarks have fueled tensions in Kazakhstan, where language remains a sensitive topic amid broader geopolitical concerns, especially following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Kazakh Service, click here.
Kazakh Soccer Coach Faces Backlash Over Language Joke
Kazakh national soccer team coach Stanislav Cherchesov at a press conference after the Kazakhstan-Slovenia game on October 13.