Twist – you get a player’s jersey, then the ref takes it back

In a surprising turn of events during the fourth round of the Russian Cup group stage clash between Zenit and Akhmat, football fans were left talking long after the final whistle. In stoppage time, Akhmat defender Nodir Ghandri fouled Zenit’s forward Andrey Mostovoy, prompting referee Rafael Shafeev to brandish a straight red card.

As Ghandri made his way off the pitch, he casually handed his jersey to a fan in the stands, a gesture that quickly became the center of attention. But VAR intervention soon altered the narrative: the red card was downgraded to a yellow. This reversal meant the astonished supporter had no choice but to return the jersey to Ghandri.

Adding to the drama, Nodir Ghandri had already scored Akhmat’s sole goal in the match. Yet, it was the card controversy—and the jersey incident—that captured the fans’ imagination and dominated conversations after the game.

The unusual sequence of events in this Russian Cup tie quickly went viral, sparking lively debate among supporters and highlighting how quickly football can produce unforgettable, unexpected moments.