MOSCOW: Former Russia international Diniar Bilialetdínov has been called up to fight in Ukraine by the Ministry of Defense despite being older than the apparent limit.

Bilialetdínov’s clubs included Lokomotiv Moscow and Everton.

Father Rinat said: “Diniar has received the notification. He did not serve in the Army, although he did carry out military training for athletes. That was 19 years ago. That is, he did swear to the flag.”

Under current legislation men under 35 can be called up but his son is already 37.

Rinat said: “There must be some contradiction. Now he is going to clarify if the notification is correct or it was sent prematurely. Everything is possible.

“If it were a general mobilisation, then no questions would be asked. But as long as the president maintains that it is partial, then everything must be done according to the law.”

Thousands of Russians have left the country for fear of being called up.

Bilialetdínov won the Russian league with Lokomotiv in 2004 and was a semi-finalist at Euro 2008 with his country’s national team. He played in the first team from 2004 to 2009 when he moved to Everton. He then moved to Spartak Moscow (2012-2015), although he was on loan at Anzhi Makhachkala and Torpedo Moscow. His last clubs were Rubin Kazan (2015-2017) and Trakai (2017-2018).

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