Russian club renamed after Chechen strongman's father

Moscow (AFP) – Russian Premier League outfit Terek Grozny is to change its name to ‘Akhmat’ in honour of the slain father of the strongman Chechen Republic leader Ramzan Kadyrov, the club said on Wednesday.

Kremlin loyalist Kadyrov — who has ruled the region with an iron-fist for a decade — said the move came after a petition by supporters.

“It is a great honour for me to tell all football lovers that from now on Grozny football club is renamed ‘Akhmat’,” Kadyrov wrote in an online post.

Kadyrov’s father — Akhmat — fought against Moscow in the first Chechen war for independence in the mid-1990s before changing sides during a second conflict and becoming head of the region. 

Akhmat Kadyrov was killed when a bomb tore through the stand at Grozny’s main football stadium as he oversaw World War II victory commemorations in 2004. 

His son Ramzan rose to power in the wake of his murder with the backing of Russian President Vladimir Putin and has been accused of using widespread torture and rights abuses to stamp his authority on Chechnya. 

Last season Terek — which was once briefly coached by Dutch legend Ruud Gullit — finished fifth in Russia’s top division, its best ever end-of-season result.  

The team already plays its home games in the Akhmat Arena, named after Kadyrov senior.