Córdoba Under Fire for Dive Against Akron

The incident came in last week's 1:1 draw between Krasnodar and Akron. In the second half, Akron goalkeeper Vitali Gudiev made light contact with the Colombian forward, who deliberately went down and appealed to the referee for a card against the keeper.

Vladislav Radimov, the former Zenit player, did not hold back, telling RB Sport:

Igor Shalimov, also via RB Sport, took a more measured view, pointing out the irony of the simulation in the VAR era.

"Going down like that in the age of VAR is rather strange, especially when the medical staff then ran on. On the other hand, the forward was doing everything to win the game," Shalimov said.

Rinat Bilyaletdinov, speaking to Euro-Football.Ru, was the most scathing, saying the incident should have brought Córdoba a card and arguing VAR ought to be able to punish blatant simulation even after the final whistle.

"Gudiev gave Córdoba a friendly pat, nothing aggressive. He thought about it for a second, then produced what we all saw. Honestly, he's gone down in my estimation. I enjoy watching this player, he's an asset to our league and an example to many. But not in this respect," Bilyaletdinov said.

Córdoba has scored once in four Russian Premier League appearances this season. His contract with Krasnodar, who top the table with 19 points, runs until next summer. Bilyaletdinov, in the same interview, put Krasnodar's dropped points down to an unexpectedly spirited Akron performance rather than any dip from the leaders, adding that without Gudiev's earlier error Krasnodar might have taken nothing at all from the game.