Rebel Sytchev suspended

Russian international striker Dmitri Sytchev has received the maximum four-month ban from the disciplinary committee of the Football Union of Russia (RFS) after walking out on FC Spartak Moskva.

Loophole in law
The striker announced he was quitting Spartak last month, ignoring the fact he has a contract with the club until 2006. It was feared the actions of the player, who found a loophole in Russia's labour law, could prompt a local version of the Bosman case.

Spartak sought ban
However, Spartak, who claimed they had in no way neglected the player's contract and even granted him additional bonuses, sought for the player to be banned after he declared he would not play for the Russian champions again.

Compensation required
After a four-hour meeting today, the RFS's disciplinary body also ruled a compensation fee would be paid should Sytchev not return to Spartak after serving his ban and move to another Russian club. In the case of the striker moving abroad, a FIFA tribunal would set the fee.

Rise to prominence
The 18-year-old striker rose to prominence in 2002, after joining Spartak from second division side FC Spartak Tambov. After finishing top scorer in the winter Commonwealth Cup in Moscow, Sytchev went on to set the Russian Premier-Liga alight, scoring nine goals to earn a place in Russia's FIFA World Cup squad. He scored once and provided assists for three other Russian goals in Japan.

Ukraine link
Sytchev has been repeatedly linked with moves to Ukraine's FC Dynamo Kyiv and FC Shakhtar Donetsk. Shakhtar president Rinat Akhmetov has admitted his club's interest, but Dynamo officials denied the link.