Three Individuals Assault and Beat Russian Footballer at Zvartnots Airport

Russian footballer Anton Kobyalko has given an interview to the Russian website Championat.com, explaining his conflict with Yerevan's FC Pyunik head coach Yeghishe Melikyan. According to Russian media reports, Kobyalko, playing for FC Pyunik, had an argument with the team’s head coach during a match against FC Ararat-Armenia on May 17, after which the club decided to part ways with the player.

Kobyalko arrived at the club's training base on May 20, said farewell to his teammates, and demanded an apology from Melikyan for insulting his mother. After being refused, he slapped Melikyan and quickly left the training facility heading to the airport. Following him were Melikyan and the club's deputy director Kim Arakelyan, who assaulted the footballer, as reported by armtimes.

Later, Melikyan gave an interview to Sport24 stating that he was not at the airport and that the entire situation had been exaggerated, resembling a Hollywood film. However, it is confirmed by Shamshyan.com that on May 20, Anton Kobyalko, a Russian citizen, and Yeghishe Melikyan, a citizen of Ukraine, were taken to a police station from zvartnots.

Kobyalko previously described how his conflict with Melikyan began. He stated that he was not receiving adequate playing time. During the match against his former team, FC Ararat-Armenia, Melikyan left him on the bench and decided to put him in the game at the 88th minute with the score at 0-0.

“At that moment, I felt I did not deserve such treatment. I am already 35 years old. But to enter the match in the 88th minute against my former team... Yes, he is the coach and has the right to make such decisions. I don't think he did it intentionally,” Kobyalko recounted. After the match, Melikyan approached him and said he would not play him again, to which Kobyalko responded, “Thank God, I don't want to play for you anyway.” Melikyan then reportedly began to insult him and insulted Kobyalko's mother. Kobyalko stated he had told Melikyan that he would be waiting for him in the locker room.

Kobyalko claimed he waited there for 20-30 minutes, but Melikyan did not show up. After Kobyalko slapped Melikyan, his assistant and other club staff tried to catch up with Kobyalko. However, Kobyalko managed to get a taxi and leave for the airport. Upon arrival, he went through security and, after picking up his luggage, was attacked by Melikyan, who struck him in the ear. Kobyalko stated that during this altercation, he was also struck from behind. Police soon arrived and took both individuals to the station.

Kobyalko mentioned that he only saw Melikyan and his assistant, and he did not know who attacked him from behind. He refused to give a statement, saying, “In Barnaul, where I grew up, such things are not customary. I wanted to resolve things like a man; maybe that offended Melikyan, and he decided to take revenge. Let it be that way. I resolved my issues differently, and giving a statement was unacceptable for me. I have no objections to what has happened.”

Regarding the presence of Kim Arakelyan, a member of the HFF executive committee, at the airport, Kobyalko said he only saw him when they were going to the station. “They say he also struck me, but I did not see him at that moment. I only saw Melikyan and his assistant. According to camera footage, there were three attackers. I don’t know who hit me from behind—whether it was the deputy director or a driver,” he stated.

Kobyalko labeled Melikyan's claims of not being at the airport as “pure lies,” asserting, “He is a real liar. When I read that, I immediately thought he was not a man. A real man wouldn’t do such things. Maybe he wants to save his coaching career. The camera footage will show everything. Can he not understand that?”

The 35-year-old forward indicated that he has no issues with FC Pyunik, as the club has fulfilled all its obligations. He expressed willingness to play in Armenia again if invited, stating, “I’ve played here for a year, and I have excellent relationships with the other coaches. There has been no issue—no insults, no fights. I respect my elders. Many have offered me their supportive words, but I dislike how this incident is presented as if three Armenians assaulted me. Understand, there are no bad nationalities, just bad people. I had a conflict with Melikyan, but the nation is not at fault. I love Armenia. I have lived there for three years with no problems. I am 35 years old, but I still want to play football. If there’s an offer from Armenia, I would gladly accept it. I am not afraid and I do not hide. I want to, and more importantly, I can play,” concluded Kobyalko.