Kazakhstan coach suspended after striking minor volleyball player

Hamit Mirzabekov, a volleyball coach from Shymkent, has been suspended for two years following a physical assault on a minor player during a tournament in Pavlodar, Kazakhstan. The incident, which occurred on October 26 during a competition for girls born in 2009 and younger, was captured on video and widely circulated on social media.

The footage shows Mirzabekov calling a player, identified by the number nine, to the sideline before striking her in the head. Following the outcry, the Kazakhstan Volleyball Federation issued a two-year disqualification, prohibiting him from coaching, pedagogical work, or participating in any sanctioned competitions. Mirzabekov was also dismissed from his position at the Volleyball Kids private club.

Sanctions have also been applied to the tournament organizer, the Myqtylarortasy private league, which received a fine and a formal warning for insufficient supervision. The Shymkent volleyball academy also received a warning. Local police in the Pavlodar region have launched an investigation into the use of physical force against a minor to determine potential criminal liability.