Once one of the most prominent faces on Russia’s Match TV, Yana Romashkina has largely disappeared from the media spotlight. The reason? Family. Two years ago, she became a mother, and last summer, her husband, footballer Nair Tiknizyan, signed with Red Star Belgrade, prompting the family’s move to the Serbian capital. Now, she spends most of her time at home with their son, stepping back from social media and her career.
In an exclusive interview, the 31-year-old former presenter discusses her new life as a stay-at-home mom, adapting to Belgrade, the challenges of being a footballer’s wife, and the pervasive sexism in sports broadcasting.
**Life in Belgrade: More Homemaker Than Host**
“I’ve been in Belgrade for almost a year, but I can’t say I’ve fully adapted,” Romashkina admits. “Life here isn’t as settled as it was in Moscow. Most of my time is spent with our little son. We have a nanny, but she doesn’t live here – she flies in from Russia when we need her. So I’m primarily a homemaker right now.”
When asked about finding local help, she explains, “I tried to find a nanny in Serbia, but as an anxious mother, I don’t trust just anyone. I don’t speak Serbian, and I don’t know the local options. Our nanny has been with us since our son was a few months old – I’m comfortable leaving him with her.”
Romashkina describes herself as a “wild introvert” who prefers solitude. “I love staying home alone. Being with my son is wonderful. Parties and meetings aren’t for me. It might sound strange for a TV host, but I’m not very sociable.”
She reveals that Red Star Belgrade has a dedicated staff member responsible for helping players’ wives adapt. “There’s a woman who helps us with everything – from bureaucracy to finding a good Russian restaurant. She created a chat for the wives and occasionally suggests meetups. I’ve connected with a few of them, including the Serbian wife of a teammate who learned Russian.”
**Career Sacrifice: “No Doubts, No Regrets”**
Regarding leaving her career behind, Romashkina is resolute. “Sacrificing my career for my family? That wasn’t even a question. I’m absolutely confident in Nair – as a husband and a man. I know he will never abandon me or our son. With him, I’m ready to go to the ends of the earth. Yes, there’s a small pang – I left something I worked for my whole life. But family is more important. There was never a second of hesitation between moving with Nair or staying in Moscow for my career. We made this decision together.”
She dismisses feminist criticism. “Some will say I’m sacrificing my career for a man. But what alternative was there? For Nair to reject Red Star and stay with me because I worked on Match TV? He would be at home with the baby while I waved from the TV screen: ‘Good morning, country!’ That would be strange. Or for us to stay in Russia while he lived alone? Not an option either. My current fulfillment is being with my husband and son. If I achieved this once, I can do it again when I need to.”
Would she follow Nair anywhere? “Not Antarctica – it’s not livable. But anywhere else, it doesn’t matter as long as we’re together.”
**The Scariest Moment: Caught in a Conflict Zone**
Romashkina recounts a terrifying experience in Dubai. “We were on vacation with my mother and son. On February 28, the day before we were supposed to leave, we heard a loud bang. I thought a construction panel had fallen. Then another bang. A friend messaged: ‘Are you okay?’ I read the news – a conflict had erupted in the Middle East, airspace was closed. Drones were exploding nearby.”
“I told my mom. A woman from Israel nearby said they have bomb shelters at home, but here there’s nothing. She advised us to go to the basement parking. The staff pretended nothing was happening. Then a drone flew so low over my head – like a black bird, but incredibly fast and loud. Everyone panicked. We ran to the parking lot, where there was chaos, crying, men shielding children.”
“We later learned the drone hit a nearby hotel. The explosions were terrifying – nothing like in movies. A friend living in another part of Dubai said they didn’t hear anything. Nair told us to go to that friend’s place. Our flights kept getting canceled. We finally booked one on March 5-6. Many were stuck much longer. Even the area we moved to eventually came under attack. Would I go back? Yes, when it’s all over. It wasn’t so traumatic that I’d develop a phobia. But I will never forget the feeling of helplessness, especially having a young child and mother to protect.”
**Stalkers and Online Harassment**
Romashkina opens up about a persistent stalker who has been harassing her for years. “There’s a guy who acts like a stalker. He’s from Krasnodar, not Moscow, luckily. He keeps writing from different accounts – for three or four years now. When I worked in media football and we went to Krasnodar, he would follow me. I block him, he creates a new account. He’s a young guy, about 20, but his mind… He’s threatened suicide if I don’t befriend him, sent gifts and letters through others. When Nair and I got together, he begged me not to marry him. ‘You should only be with me.’ He’s sick. He even sent photos of a tattoo of my face, a glass with my photo, walls covered with my pictures. Nair has confronted him, I’ve blocked him dozens of times – he keeps coming back.”
She explains Nair’s decision to drive her to early morning shifts despite criticism. “It wasn’t every day – I worked twice a week. But Nair insisted because he was worried. What if something happened? The world isn’t safe. With all the stalkers and online threats, his precaution made sense. I’ve developed anxiety and even saw a psychologist because of this. So let people laugh about him driving me – but our reality is different from most people’s.”
**Sexism in Sports Media: “Beautiful Women Can’t Be Smart?”**
Romashkina addresses the double standards women face in sports journalism. “Why do many think that a beautiful woman can’t be smart? That she can’t achieve anything on her own without sleeping with someone or having money? I know more about football than all those armchair critics combined. My husband is a professional footballer – he explains tactics to me after matches. I understand the game far better than men who just watch from their couches.”
She recalls a university lecturer’s remark: “A woman on screen is first looked at, then listened to. A man is first listened to, then looked at. That’s why women are always dressed up – shorter skirts, deeper necklines – to attract attention visually before anyone cares what they say. Then the same people
