Kerzhakov could face action over Dikan Collision

Zenit forward Alexander Kerzhakov could be punished over a collision with Andriy Dikan that left the Spartak Moscow goalkeeper with a broken cheekbone, a broken jaw and a concussion, the Russian Football Union's honorary president told RIA Novosti on Sunday. The incident occurred 50 minutes into Saturday's match that Zenit won 2-1. Kerzhakov's knee smashed into Dikan's face after the goalkeeper had saved a shot from the onrushing striker. The game was held up for several minutes as Dikan received treatment. He returned to the pitch but was substituted ten minutes later, after Kerzhakov scored a penalty past him. Vyacheslav Koloskov said Sunday that Kerzhakov had not caused the injury deliberately, but could have avoided clattering into Dikan. "The distance to Dikan was enough, at least a meter," Koloskov said. "Therefore, Kerzhakov could have managed to move his knee out of the way, or lift it up, or draw his leg up to his chest. It seemed to me there was enough time for this," Koloskov said. The referee didn't rule the incident to be a foul, and Kerzhakov was not cautioned, but the Russian Football Union rules allow it to re-examine passages of play to decide whether action should have been taken, Koloskov said. "In such a case it's possible to return to the related article of the disciplinary code and punish him," Koloskov said. Spartak released a statement moments after the defeat, identifying the extent of Dikan's injuries. It was unclear if he was hospitalized. Spartak's statement said he was under the continuous supervision of a neurologist and a neuropathologist. Koloskov said the incident did not bear comparison with CSKA goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev, who suffered knee ligament damage after colliding with Spartak's Brazilian striker Welliton last summer, because "Welliton deliberately played the man." But he suggested that Kerzhakov could be retrospectively issued with a ban in the same way that Welliton was hit with a six-match suspension. "The documents don't distinguish between the deliberate and the non-deliberate causing of injury." Koloskov was a FIFA vice-president from 1980 to 1996.