“We will no longer be silent and we will see how the judges make chaos”

President of Dynamo Igor surkis He touched the Ukrainian referees hard, commented on the actions of the referee team in the match against Kolos (2: 2).

Before talking about the refereeing issue, I want to summarize the match with Kolos from a sporting point of view. Our rival played a very strong match, the Kolos players fought to the end and deserved what they got. I always respect teams that play honestly, like a man and fight to the end.

And now about what I saw, both as club president and as a football fan with many years of experience. Not being an expert on the complexities of arbitration, I can’t help but pay attention to the simpler things that everyone understands. Referees can make mistakes, it’s part of football. But the refereeing must be consistent and it is impossible to give different penalties for the same violations in the same match! If the referee decided that Shepelev deserved a red card, then for the same foul on Shaparenko he had to send Seleznev off before the break. They are similar situations.

I was silent for a long time, but now it is simply impossible. The implementation of the VAR has provided new opportunities for Ukrainian referees. For example, they watch replays when they want and don’t even review similar situations in favor of the other team. If we took the match against Kolos, if Mircea Lucescu had not made a management with the entrance to the field, the main referee and the VAR referee would have continued their anarchy. I can’t call it another way.

We don’t need the help of referees, we want one thing: consistent and fair refereeing. One that would allow teams to play soccer and not deal with the referees or rewatch the whole game. As soon as we have an important match, Monzul will be on the field and Romanov will be the referee for VAR. And constantly there are some incomprehensible mistakes and decisions. It’s not even about the match with Kolos. In our country, the judges will first do things in favor of one team, then they will be scared of what they have done and will start to look, as if now they are whistling in favor of the other team. This is not normal! This inconsistency makes it impossible to play soccer properly. The players prepare, work in training, then go out onto the field, and there the decision of one referee is worse than that of the other.

I never spoke with Luciano Luci, but the time has come. You have time, there is a winter break, you can work with the referees so that they add their professionalism and correct decision-making.

The Football Association must understand that all clubs must be treated the same. Players see everything and understand everything. And then they go to the national team and some problems start. We remember 2016 very well, when the well-known channels staged a persecution of Dynamo players, the same Yarmolenko they called with any word. And then it was not possible to assemble this team.

Give us fair and competitive conditions, and there is no need to drag anyone by the ears to the championship. At one point, people from the Shakhtar camp said similar things and believe they were heard. Now we will say the same.

The emotions have calmed down, there is time to reconsider the mistakes made and draw conclusions. Look, Mr. Luciano Luci, for example, Moraes and Zabarny’s red cards. Look how they slipped on a damp, difficult lawn, fell, and didn’t want to hurt anyone. Make it clear to your judges that they should not wave red cards every time they suspect. See why Shepelev was eliminated, read what famous Italian and English referees said about it. Look at the red card for the Kolos player, who wasn’t even close. Who needs a game like this?

We will no longer remain silent and watch the referees wreak havoc on the soccer field. A well-paid referee mentor should put things in order and ensure the same conditions for all UPL teams. To do this, you have time and opportunities. Club presidents invest millions of dollars in soccer, develop infrastructure, create jobs, maintain academies, youth and youth teams, and then have to watch their teams kill and mock the very essence of the game.

Just give us and our rivals a chance to play soccer honestly! Surkis said.