Russian President Vladimir Putin falls while waving to the crowd during an exhibition ice hockey game with former National Hockey League players at Sochi’s Bolshoy Ice Dome.
Vladimir Putin who scored eight goals during the game clearly did not see the red carpet on the ice that caused the fall while he waved at the crowd during an ice-hockey game in Sochi. One of his teammates tried to warn him but it was too late.
The 66-year-old leader appeared fine after the tumble.
Vladimir Putin falls on the ice on Friday night for the annual exhibition match alongside the Legends team including ex-NHL players, Russian hockey stars such as Hall of Famers Slava Fetisov and Pavel Bure. His teammate, defense minister Sergei Shoigu, added three goals in the 14 to 7 victory.
Russian President Vladimir Putin took a fall as he waved to the crowd during an ice-hockey game in Sochi. He scored eight goals during the exhibition match in what has become a yearly tradition. https://t.co/x0mN62qQoY pic.twitter.com/l6XCRrwsIB
— ABC News (@ABC) May 10, 2019
The president had scored only five goals in last year’s game, down from seven the year prior and eight in 2015.
Putin, whose approval ratings have slipped in recent years as Russia battles economic woes, periodically plays hockey with government officials, businessmen and former NHL stars in matches that are broadcast with pomp on national television.
