It was in November 2020. Artem Dziuba, then Zenit Saint Petersburg striker, was kicked out of the Russian national team after a video of him masturbating appeared online. The video of Dziuba quickly circulated on popular social media. It showed a Russian man lying in bed and sticking his tongue out at the camera’s camera.
Dziuba spoke about the scandalous film. “Girls undress me with their eyes”
Dziuba commented on this event for the first time in history.
– It was a difficult moment for me and a huge lesson. I found out how this video got online, but I don’t want to talk about it. I did everything not to let this story break me. Of course, the family was shocked, but now everyone is making jokes. Dad, for example, may call me a jerk, but I take it lightly, I have no taboos. Either you accept this situation with a smile, or you will be expelled,” Dziuba said in an interview with journalist Nobel Arustamyan.
The footballer also noted that the famous recording increased his popularity even more.
– I see girls walking around and undressing me with their eyes. There is more female and, unfortunately, male attention, added Dziuba.
The player also has no regrets that he was not called up to the Russian national team after this event.
“They didn’t call me up to the national team to divert too much hype and attention. It was the right decision, but definitely unpleasant for me. Now I’m calm, it’s even funny – admitted Dziuba.
The 34-year-old footballer was a national hero at the 2018 World Cup in Russia when he scored three goals and helped Cherchesov’s side to the quarter-finals. The striker was then the captain of the team. After the tournament ended, he lost the captain’s armband.
Currently, Dziuba plays for Lokomotiv Moscow. This season he has made seven appearances and scored one goal.
Lokomotiv Moscow after 17 rounds with 13 points is only 14th in the Russian league table.
Cherchesov fired Dziuba after a scandalous film. “He will have time to normalize his situation”
– The situation with Artem Dziuba from a sporting point of view has nothing to do with the Russian national team. Therefore, we do not see the need to provide detailed comments evaluating this case. However, the national team’s coaching staff understands perfectly well that the national team should prepare for matches against Moldova, Turkey and Serbia in conditions of maximum concentration and not be distracted by other things. We have always emphasized that everyone, both on and off the pitch, must match the level and status of the player in the national team. Therefore, it was decided today not to appoint Artiom Dziuba to the training camp in order to protect both the team and the player from excessive stress. The player will have time to normalize his situation – said in November 2020, after the scandal, Stanisław Czerchesow, the then coach of the Russian national team, quoted by the Russian football federation, who once also led Legia Warszawa.
