Trial for assault by two Russian footballers begins

Mamaev, a midfielder for Krasnodar, and Zenit Saint Petersburg forward Kokorin -- as well as two other defendants, including Kokorin's younger brother -- have been held in Moscow's Butyrka prison since October. Russian media on Tuesday aired footage of the four handcuffed men rushed from a police van to the Presnensky court, where the hearing is taking place. According to the Russian press, the trial could last up to two months.

In October the pair attacked the driver of a television host, damaging her Mercedes. She was hospitalised with injuries. They were then caught on video attacking two Russian trade ministry officials in an upscale cafe, hitting one, an ethnic Korean, with a chair while referring to his Asian appearance. Several days later, they were ordered to be detained pending trial for "hooliganism."

Both are Russian internationals though Kokorin last played for the national side in late 2017, while Mamaev was last selected in 2016. The attacks caused outrage in Russia, especially as Mamaev and Kokorin have been in trouble before after partying. 

The Russian Football Union suspended the pair in July 2016 after a video emerged from a Monte Carlo nightclub in which Mamaev and Kokorin allegedly spent $296,000 (258,000 euros) on a champagne-fuelled party following Euro 2016, where Russia flopped. Earlier this month, a court again extended their detention until September 25. 

But the severity of the Russian justice system -- all their requests to be granted bail have been rejected -- has angered some. "In my opinion, this situation goes beyond any human understanding," Sergei Semak, Kokorin's coach at Zenit Saint Petersburg, told the Interfax news agency last week. "Let's then lock people up for a year for every fight, then it will be clearer for everyone. You fight, you get locked up for a year," Semak said.