Lokomotiv Moscow's Brazilian goalkeeper gets Russian nationality

Marinato Guilherme, the Lokomotiv Moscow's Brazilian goalkeeper, has obtained Russian citizenship, the club reported Monday.

   The 29-year-old Guilherme, who has been one part of this club since 2007, said that he had made the decision to ask for Russian citizenship deliberately.   

   "I live here together with my family and we feel ourselves at home here," the club press service quoted Guilherme on their official site.

   "I'm happy to become a part of this great country."

   Lokomotiv manager Igor Cherevchenko will get more freedom in selecting his line-up for Premier League matches as Guilherme's new status makes him no longer a foreign player.

   According to the league's regulation, the number of foreign footballers on the pitch is limited to six players maximum in Premiership encounters.

   Guilherme said that he would be keen to play for the Russian national team if selected.

   An amendment to the state citizenship law, which was proposed by Igor Ananskikh, the chairman of sports committee of the lower house of Russian parliament earlier this year, makes it easier for foreingn athletes to get Russian nationality.

   Ananskikh said that the success of naturalized foreign athletes such as South Korean short-track skater Viktor Ahn (also known as Ahn Hyun-soo) and U.S. snowboarder Vic Wild, who between them won five gold medals at 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi, was fundamental to his proposal.  Endi