Miroslav STUPAR: “Monzul became Balakin’s hostage

Expert referee, former FIFA referee Miroslav stupar He commented on the moment when Serhiy Sidorchuk was sent off in the match between Dynamo and Shakhtar (0: 3).

Let’s remember, Katerina Monzul dismissed the captain of the capital club after the tip of the VAR referee Nikolai Balakin.

“It was not a game for youth teams that need to be taught to play soccer. Not Monzul, but Balakin killed all the intrigues in the party: he made her act formally. If Balakin had not intervened, we would have seen different football. The problem is that with such decisions the referees force our football to develop strictly in accordance with formal laws. Where are the opportunities for creativity? Where is the observance of the spirit of the game, which attracts the public in the stands and on the screens? VAR kills this spirit.

If Balakin had not intervened, no one would have criticized Monzul. Yes, Sidorchuk was late with the slip, although technically it was done by the rules – one leg is spread across the ground and the other is trying to play the ball. But he didn’t have time, because Kornienko was more agile. Kornienko pushed the ball at full speed, and the Dynamo footballer played the opponent in the leg. Fortunately, this leg was not supportive for Kornienko. If there were a supportive one, it would be much more dangerous to health.

I think that most referees at the international level would have judged this episode not formally, but about football: a yellow card. But this is not typical of our judges. Monzul became hostage to Balakin’s insinuation: “go see.” In the text of the rules, this is a serious infringement of the game, but sometimes you have to show flexibility to develop football. Furthermore, none of the Shakhtar players demanded to be sent off, because they perceived this entry as a soccer ball. And after the red Sidorchuk the intrigue in the party died. It is difficult for us to change something, but we can express our opinion, ”said Miroslav Ivanovich.