Diniyar Bilyaletdinov: I felt a change in attitudes among the English after Russia beat England to WC-2018

Spartak Moscow midfielder Diniyar Bilyaletdinov gave his view on why the Russian players almost simultaneously left England this season.

«There was a shift in the attitudes to Russian players from people in and around English football after Russia beat England to the right to host the World Cup in 2018. Perhaps it was on a subconscious level, but even the referees weren’t particularly kind to us after that. When every other conditions were equal, we would not get the benefit of the doubt. I am not saying it was the main reason why I left, but it was part of it,» the former Everton midfielder said during a Russian TV talk-show.