All-star football game in Grozny the latest attempt by president Ramzan Kadyrov to show republic has recovered from war

As night fell on the Chechen capital, the roars reached a fever pitch. A helicopter hovered overhead. Snipers readied their sights.

Ten years ago these would have been signs of war. Last night, they indicated that the former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler and the legendary Argentine captain Diego Maradona were in town for a game of football.

In what will go down as one of the most bizarre matches in footballing history, Chechnya hosted a game between some of the world's greatest players and a side comprising Chechen and Russian players, captained by the Chechen leader, Ramzan Kadyrov.

With an 11pm start time, the former Liverpool and Real Madrid midfielder Steve McManaman, the ex-Italian defender Franco Baresi, former French goalkeeper Fabien Barthez and the ex-Portuguese player Luis Figo, in addition to Maradona and Fowler, were among those invited to attend. The World Cup-winning French midfielder Zinedine Zidane denied reports he would play.

The match was the latest attempt by Kadyrov to prove that the republic he has turned into his personal fiefdom has fully recovered from the ravages of war. Now he has drafted some of football's biggest names into his games, attempting to whitewash his reputation as an international pariah because of the gruesome human rights abuses that have taken place under his watch.

After losing to an all-star Brazilian side two months ago, Kadyrov ensured this match would bring glory to Chechnya. The "world team" played lackadaisical football, letting passes slide through and melting away whenever Kadyrov, stocky and heavy on his feet, had the ball. They scored two goals within the first 18 minutes of the 40-minute match, only to lose 5-2 in the end. All the Chechen goals, save one, were assisted by Kadyrov, the announcer heartily noted. Fans barely noticed the western players, cheering rabidly whenever Kadyrov had the ball and chanting "Ramzan! Ramzan!" throughout the match. One got a sense that building up Chechnya's image was a secondary goal: having built a top-class stadium, Kadyrov simply wanted to play football with his friends, and invited several global superstars to the event.

The half-time entertainment – almost as stellar as the footballing legends on the pitch – was provided by R&B performer Craig David.

Outside the stadium, police beat back anxious football fans with batons, attempting to control a crowd numbering tens of thousands. At least one girl fainted and was carried away to safety.

Some 30,000 were allowed to enter the gleaming new stadium, which opened on Wednesday to replace one destroyed when Kadyrov's father, Akhmad, was killed in a bomb blast in 2004. The stadium, which will be the home ground for the local club, Terek Grozny, is decorated with huge posters of Akhmad Kadyrov and Vladimir Putin, Russia's prime minister. "People here have long forgotten that Dmitry Medvedev exists," said Abdullo, a driver near the stadium, explaining the absence of the Russian president.

Fans wore T-shirts imprinted with Kadyrov's face and waved massive flags praising Putin and Kadyrov and the ruling United Russia party.

It had the air of a political rally rather than a sporting event.

"Thank you to our national leader, Vladimir Putin," Kadyrov said, opening a five-hour event that included a performance by the Italian crooner Toto Cutugno and Chechen national dances.the late-night match.

Fans filled the cloudy skies above Grozny with deafening cheers. "It's so great," said Magomed Zhvakhalov, a 17-year-old student in the stands. "I'm proud of Terek and of our president." He was not aware of the big names drafted into the match. "I think they're old footballers?"

Chechnya's footballing star began to shine with the hiring of the Dutch legend Ruud Gullit as Terek manager in January. Since then, Kadyrov has plastered Grozny with posters touting football's great merits: "Football unites the world!" and "Sport brings peace to the Chechen Republic!"

He has never said where the money comes from. After a match in March, in which he he captained a Chechen side against a Brazilian-all star team that included Cafu and Romario, he said the Brazilian players hadn't been paid a penny and played in Grozny "out of respect" for the Chechen people.

Yet some may question why players such as Maradona and Fowler of worldwide renown would make the long trip trek to one of the world's most unstable corners without some kind of reimbursement.

The Chechen government said the game was part-sponsored by Dagmara Trading, a Swiss-based firm owned by secretive Chechen businessman Bulat Chagayev, a close associate of Kadyrov's.

There were rumours of a grand party to be hosted after the match, something Fowler, McManaman and Barthes would likely enjoy. Although Kadyrov is known to enjoy a good time, dancing up a storm and showering guests with money, he has imposed a steadily strict Islamism on the republic, discouraging alcohol and nightclubs. Women who walk around town without headscarves have been shot at by security services with paintguns.

There was no word on whether the footballers would comment on being associated with a man roundly criticised by human rights groups for the kidnappings, executions and torture that happen in his republic. After March's Brazil match, Gullit told reporters he would rather not think about it. "I have to be concerned only with football, the rest is not my concern," he said.