Kazakh national soccer team coach Stanislav Cherchesov, a Russian national, has been fined by the national federation for making an insensitive comment regarding the Kazakh language. Federation President Adliet Barmenqulov on October 16 announced the disciplinary action over an incident that occurred last weekend, when Cherchesov responded to a reporter's question in Kazakh with a joke comparing the language to French, sparking public outrage. Cherchesov was fined 738,400 tenges ($1,500) and underwent counseling about the importance of respecting the state language. Despite defending Cherchesov's humor as a misunderstanding tied to the reporter's French soccer jersey, critics argue the comment was inappropriate. This marks the latest in a series of language-related controversies surrounding the Russian coach, highlighting the sensitivity of linguistic issues in Kazakhstan, especially in the context of broader geopolitical tensions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Kazakh Service, click here.
Kazakh National Soccer Coach Fined For Language Joke
Kazakh national soccer team coach Stanislav Cherchesov speaks at a press conference after the Kazakhstan-Slovenia game on October 13.