Tedeev: North-Ossetian footballers happy with reception in Ingushetia

On August 21 the Rashid Aushev Stadium in Nazran hosted a football match in the southern zone of the second division of Russian championship between "Angusht" (Nazran) and "Fayur" (Beslan). In the first-ever football match between Ingushetia and North Ossetia not on the neutral pitch "Fayur" beat "Angusht" 2:0.

For the first time the match was played not on a neutral pitch, as before, but in Ingushetia. It was organized on the initiative of President of Ingushetia Yunus-Bek Evkurov, who is actively pursuing the policy of re-establishment of good neighbourly relations with North Ossetia.

Quite a lot of law enforcers ensured safety and order during the match; they were given a special alert. For security purposes all cellular operators were disabled.

The match was watched by the Ingush leader and his crew, and officials from the Russian Football Union. The leader of North Ossetia was not present, although it was planned. Evkurov expressed his regret that the match was not attended by fans from the neighbouring region, and promised to send several buses with "Angusht" fans to the return match in Beslan.

"Crowds of power agents around the stadium indicated that it was not an ordinary match; it was more politics in it than football," said Zaur Tedeev, the head coach of "Fayur".

The "Caucasian Knot" has written that in recent time gradual steps towards dialogue and commitment to settle the consequences of the Ossetian-Ingush conflict are observed.