Sytchev creating waves in Russia

Dmitri Sytchev's decision to leave FC Spartak Moskva could become a Russian version of the Bosman ruling and lead to wholesale change in Russian football.

Legal loophole
The 18-year-old striker has put the game in the country on high alert after finding a loophole in Russian law. Sytchev's agents, his father among them, were unhappy with his contract, signed in January when he joined from second division side FC Spartak Tambov, and the player has simply left the club.

Contract until 2006
"Sytchev has put in an official notification of his decision to leave, but he has a contract with the club until 2006," said Spartak technical director Alexander Shikunov. "That is why we are going to seek a ban on the player".

Two-week notice
Lawyer Evgeny Smolentsev of solicitors Sport Lex explained: "In Russian labour legislation, an employee has a right to terminate his contract at any time if he notifies his employer two weeks in advance. From this point of view, Sytchev is free to leave. But Russian and international football regulations have a different set of rules in place. So there is controversy. If Sytchev's agents persist, a Russian version of the Bosman case is very possible".

Ready to fight
And persist they will. Sytchev has now broken his silence on the matter. He said: "I can only say one thing - I will not play for Spartak again." Meanwhile Sytchev's agent, Aleksei Sokolov, told uefa.com: "We are convinced that Sytchev did not break any laws and we will fight for the boy until the end."

'We wanted an agreement'
Sokolov also insisted he and the other agents had done their best to find a settlement with Spartak. "We wanted an agreement which would suit us all, and we wanted Dmitri to stay at Spartak, with a new contract which would fit his position at the club," he added.

Ban sought
Spartak, however, do not agree with the contention that his contract undervalued Sytchev. "Instead of gratefulness to [coach] Oleg Romantsev, we hear that Sytchev was treated badly, which is completely untrue," said chairman Andrey Chervichenko, who is now seeking an international ban on Sytchev. "We understand where this might lead us with a player becoming a free agent for no reason."

'Loss for national team'
Boris Bobrov, executive secretary of the Premier-Liga, told uefa.com that he, too, was concerned about the situation. He said: "We have discussed the case, not only looking at Sytchev himself, but the implications for the clubs." Bobrov added he would not reveal any possible decisions until Monday, but Russia head coach Valeri Gazzaev, who decided not to use Sytchev in yesterday's friendly against Sweden, indicated a ban could be looming. "If the club thinks it is necessary to ban Sytchev, so be it," he said. "But this will be a loss for the national team."

Shakhtar interested
Ukrainian giants FC Dynamo Kyiv and FC Shakhtar Donetsk, both of whom have been linked with moves for Sytchev, have now made their position clear on the matter. "Shakhtar are interested in many players, including Sytchev", said the Donetsk club's president, Rinat Akhmetov. Dynamo president Ihor Surkis denied his club had made contact with Spartak or Sytchev.

Romantsev surgery
Meanwhile, Spartak head coach Romantsev has undergone surgery on a kidney complaint. Spartak officials said the coach was hospitalised after several days of negotiations with Sytchev, which, according to them, have affected his health. Romantsev will be released from hospital in a week.