Russia midfielder Alan Dzagoev may see a lengthy ban for violent conduct reduced because of his status as a star of the national team, the president of Dzagoev’s club side CSKA Moscow told R-Sport on Friday.

Dzagoev is serving a five-game suspension after punching and kicking Dynamo Moscow’s Luke Wilkshire last month.

“He obviously didn’t behave well, didn’t control his emotions. But he’s a leading player in the national team so possibly they’ll meet us halfway,” CSKA president Evgeny Giner said.

“It’s difficult to predict though.”

Dzagoev could make things right if he plays for Russia against Portugal in a World Cup qualifier Friday, Giner suggested.

“We hope to God he plays, so he can smooth over the negative moments there have been,” Giner said.

CSKA are to check the Russian Premier League rules to see if there are grounds to appeal the ban, of which Dzagoev has served one match.

The ban would have been for four games, but was extended because he was carrying a suspended one-match disqualification following a red card for a dangerous tackle in July.

Dzagoev has amassed 25 caps for Russia since debuting in 2008 and won plaudits for his performances at Euro 2012, where he scored three goals in as many games.