MOSCOW - A Moscow court has ordered the arrest of Russian soccer players Alexander Kokorin and Pavel Mamayev after being charged with violence in the center of the capital.Zenit St Petersburg and Mamayev of Krasnodar midfielder Kokurin face the possibility of imprisonment and will be held for two months after filming their actions via surveillance cameras on October 8.
The footage, widely published by Russian media, showed a man being kicked and punched in the street by a group of people, in addition to another incident in which two civil servants were assaulted in a coffee shop. The players were involved in the incidents.
The court also ordered the detention of Kukurin's younger brother Kirill for two months.
The three face charges of violence and riots, and may be sentenced to seven years' imprisonment.
Kokurin told the court that he felt remorse and apologized to one of the victims, but the court rejected a request from his lawyer for his temporary release, RIA news agency reported.
Both players face possible penalties from both clubs.
Kokorin has played 48 caps for Russia but has missed the World Cup this year with a knee injury, while Mamayev has represented Russia 15 times but has not joined the last World Cup.
