Former Russia manager leaves state broadcaster after mentioning Putin critic

Former Russia manager Leonid Slutsky has left Russian state broadcaster Channel One just days after mentioning notable Vladimir Putin critic Alexei Navalny, the Russian opposition leader who has been repeatedly jailed for organising anti-Kremlin protests.

Navalny uses his social media channels to publish videos and documents about corruption by Russian state officials, to organise political demonstrations and to promote his campaigns for office, but Russian President Putin never actually mentions him by name. The Russian state broadcasters and radio stations follow a similar suit and Slutsky, who was commentating on Mexico's 1-0 win over Germany on Sunday for Chanel One, referenced Navalny after match commentator Kirill Dementyev used a homonym of the opposition leader’s name to say that Germany should play “high-pressure football”. Slutsky quipped in response “Navalny plays football?” before adding “That would be interesting to see.” Slutsky told international news agency Reuters that he would be leaving the broadcaster to begin training with Dutch club Vitesse Arnhem who he will be managing next season and that his decision to leave the broadcaster, who he was contracted with to provide match commentary throughout the World Cup, had nothing to do with his on-air comments and more to do with wanting to begin preparations with Vitesse Arnhem.