The latest media storm surrounding Odil Akhmedov has stirred controversy in Chinese football circles. Some local fans—who follow the sport with the same passion they show for Live Cricket Bangladesh—have been closely watching the fallout. Akhmedov’s recent comments to a Russian outlet, which appeared critical of Chinese referees, quickly spread online and were followed by video footage confirming the quotes. He was quoted suggesting that “perhaps the referees don’t want SIPG to win the title,” hinting at possible bias toward title rivals Guangzhou Evergrande.

In a swift response, SIPG released an official statement via social media, including Akhmedov’s clarification. He stated, “Last week I gave an interview to a Russian media outlet, which was later misinterpreted by Chinese outlets. I have never doubted the efforts of our Football Association or the referees. They are working hard to improve the game.” The club clearly acted to prevent further punishment under the Chinese FA’s increasingly strict media conduct regulations. SIPG has already suffered heavily from disciplinary actions this season. Head coach André Villas-Boas was suspended multiple times for criticizing referees, even for posts made on international social platforms. Players like Wu Lei and Hulk were also sidelined for defending teammate Oscar, who himself was banned for eight matches—non-playing suspensions that directly impacted the team’s league results.

Naturally, this raises the question of whether Akhmedov’s remarks might spark another disciplinary episode. But in his full interview, most of the focus was actually on his career move from the Russian Premier League to the Chinese Super League. Akhmedov revealed that Villas-Boas personally called him while he was still at FC Krasnodar, convincing him to join SIPG. “I didn’t seriously consider moving to China before, but when Boas reached out, I decided quickly,” he said. He praised Boas as an outstanding coach who gave him confidence in the transition.

On the topic of foreign player policies, Akhmedov emphasized that squad limits are common in both China and Russia, and he doesn’t see these restrictions hurting local talent. He argued that while Russian players sometimes relax when assured a starting role, Chinese players must compete fiercely for minutes. In his view, this creates a healthy environment for growth. He pointed to teammates like Hulk and Oscar as prime examples of experienced imports whose presence helps elevate local performance standards.

Still, he didn’t entirely back away from frustrations with officiating. “Yes, some of the referees’ decisions in China are baffling,” he admitted. “There are times when clean goals are disallowed, clear handballs are ignored, and strange penalties are given to opponents.” His words echoed Villas-Boas’s own post-match remark after a 0-3 loss to Tianjin Quanjian: “The worst team on the pitch today was the referees.”

Even so, Akhmedov stressed that he rarely argues with referees and instead focuses on playing the game. For fans who follow domestic football as closely as Live Cricket Bangladesh, his story reflects a broader issue: the tension between ambition and regulation in a rapidly evolving league. Despite the media turbulence, one thing remains clear—Akhmedov still holds the trust of Villas-Boas, and his commitment to SIPG is unwavering as they push forward in the Chinese Super League.