Zenit answers ticket-allocation dispute with Krasnodar in verse

Ahead of their Russian Premier League match, Zenit published a verse responding to its dispute with Krasnodar over tickets for visiting supporters. The St Petersburg club had sought up to 3,000 seats but was allocated 1,000.

Sport-Express reported that league rules allow visiting supporters to buy up to 10% of a stadium’s capacity. At Krasnodar’s Ozon Arena, which holds 33,000 spectators, that would be as many as 3,300 seats. Zenit had asked for up to 3,000 tickets, but Krasnodar allocated 1,000.

In the published epigram, the St Petersburg club played on the distinction between the names “Petersburg” and “Piter” and used an image of a pillow. Zenit’s management also wrote to Russian Football Union president Alexander Dyukov and Russian Premier League head Alexander Alaev, asking them to review the distribution of the away allocation.

Krasnodar enters the match top of the standings with 21 points. Zenit has 18 points and is fifth. The teams are due to meet on October 10 at Ozon Arena in Krasnodar.