Celta Vigo striker Fedor Smolov defies lockdown and returns to Russia for fiancee’s 18th birthday

Player is the second at the La Liga club to ignore the travel ban amid the coronavirus pandemic

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Celta Vigo’s Fedor Smolov has become the second player at the La Liga club to ignore lockdown instructions amid the coronavirus pandemic, returning to his native Russia for his fiancee’s 18th birthday.

Smolov’s fiancee Maria Yumasheva is the granddaughter of former Russian president Boris Yeltsin.

Last week, Celta Vigo forward Pione Sisto drew criticism for driving to his home in Denmark in spite of strict travel restrictions imposed by the government.

Now team-mate Smolov, 30, will likely face a fine when he returns from Russia.

“The player repeatedly requested permission to travel to Russia for a personal matter,” a club source is quoted as saying by AS.

“The club could not give it to him, because La Liga did not authorise it, but he promptly reported his movements and left with the commitment to return once he solved his personal affairs.”

Smolov, who got engaged to Yumasheva in January, last week seemed to accept the travel ban, saying: “I get along well, nothing new can happen.

“I don’t think about anything and I accept the situation.”

The lockdown in Spain, which has already lasted for three weeks, has been extended until 26 April.

More than 12,000 people in the country have been killed by Covid-19.