Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov screams at soccer referee

Musa Sadulayev seen before a friendly game between Chechnya and Brazil in the stadium in Grozny, Russia, in 2011.

Musa Sadulayev/AP

Chechen strongman Ramzan Kadyrov has apologized for screaming at a soccer referee over a stadium loudspeaker.

The leader of the Russian province, who has repeatedly accused of human rights abuses, was furious Sunday after Terek Grozny captain Rizvan Utsiev was dismissed for a bad challenge.

As the referee showed Utsiev a second yellow card, Kadyrov grabbed a microphone and shouted, "The ref's been bought off! You're an ass!'' His voice boomed across the stadium.

Kadyrov said Monday that his reaction was "a cry from the soul of all Chechen fans'' and accused the referee of bias against Terek in the Russian league game.

Russian soccer's governing body says it will investigate.