"Can we have a separate championship for teams playing in European competitions?" - Rukh is strongly against postponing the game

Theinformation that the match of the 5th round of the Ukrainian championship between Rukh and Dnipro-1 has been postponed indefinitely was commented on by the technical director of the Lviv team, Oleksandr Chaban.

- How did you get the information about Dnipro-1's desire to postpone the game and how did the club's representatives inform you about it?

- The management of Dnipro-1 unofficially approached our club. At first, they wanted to move the match from Lviv to Uzhhorod. And when they were refused, they decided to postpone the match indefinitely with the help of the UPL.

- This season, a new rule has appeared in the Regulations, which allows Ukrainian representatives in European competitions to postpone games without the consent of the other party. So how will Rukh insist on playing on 27 August?

- Such a rule is indeed spelled out in the Regulations. It was quietly promoted by Shakhtar and the UPL management through manipulation. This issue of the Regulations, as well as some other norms, was deliberately not put up for a broad discussion by the clubs. The UAF Executive Committee voted and made such decisions, and now many of these nuances are coming to light. The Premier League and its management did everything they could to keep this issue from being discussed by the clubs, no one focused on this point. They were well aware of the absurdity and scandalous nature of this rule, but they silently promoted it.

First and foremost, the UPL management is obliged to defend the interests of the League as a whole, the Championship, and the continuity of the competitive period for the clubs. In particular, it was important to talk to the clubs and emphasise this issue. Now it turns out that the UPL, instead of protecting the interests of the League, is openly lobbying for Shakhtar and other European Cup participants. And domestic competitions are fading into the background. Thus, we believe that the UPL management is openly discrediting the interests of the League and most UPL clubs.

This is not the first time in the history of Ukrainian football that the domestic championship has been literally spat on. Back in the days of Hryhoriy Surkis' tenure at the FFU, Dynamo Kyiv played league matches whenever they wanted. Later, Shakhtar Donetsk resorted to such methods. It turns out that clubs playing in European competitions are somehow special and do everything to subordinate everything to their own interests. And what are the other clubs then: extras, a backdrop for the big boys? Where is the sporting principle here and how can competition and the right to equality be maintained in such circumstances? The same thing happens in the Ukrainian Cup competitions: someone goes through three or four qualifying rounds, while the big boys start competing for the Cup from the 1/8 finals. And recently, in the 2020/2021 season, Dynamo and Shakhtar started in the Cup right from the quarter-finals. At the time, some experts joked that the Cup might not be held at all, but just the final match between Dynamo and Shakhtar. Similarly, analogies suggest themselves here: maybe we should determine the participants in the European Cups from Ukraine for the next season at the beginning of the championship, and then no one will break the calendar and the Regulations over the knee? Or maybe we should create a separate Ukrainian championship for teams playing in European competitions?

Therefore, we call on all other clubs in the championship to hold an operational meeting on this issue to change this clause of the Regulations. A club cannot actually decide when and where to play and dictate conditions to others. It now appears that the current leadership of the UPL and UAF are acting solely in the interests of their chosen clubs.

- Why does the Premier League allow such games with the regulations?

- Because our League is weak, frail and spineless. Once again, we are convinced that there is no leader who would fiercely defend the rights of all clubs, rather than lobbying for the interests of privileged teams.

- Last season, teams were also involved in postponing games. Some, like Shakhtar, managed to negotiate this, while others, like Dynamo and Dnipro-1, did not always succeed. But this season, they have received 'equal' conditions. How much does this resonate with the clubs' positions and what does it change?

- This rule is in the Regulations and the Euro Cup clubs now have the right to appeal to it. But the main driving force behind these changes is Shakhtar. They made it seem like it would be good for everyone so that other clubs wouldn't complain. But this is completely absurd. For example, Dnipro-1 have a game against Spartak in Trnava on 23 August. And Dnipro play us on 27 August. Trnava is not on another continent and it is not a long drive from there to Lviv. After the game with us, their next match is on 31 August. For example, Manchester City played a UEFA Super Cup match on 16 August (Wednesday), and on 19 August (Saturday) they played a match in the Premier League. Have you ever heard of the Premier League, LaLiga, Bundesliga, Serie A or any other self-respecting leagues postponing their domestic league matches because they have to play in European competitions? But never! It is simply impossible! For all European Leagues, the domestic championship is the number one priority. And everything is subordinated to the harmony of the calendar, equal conditions for the participants and is done in the interests of fans and viewers. Respect for the domestic championship is boundless!

For some reason, European clubs can stick to such schedules. But here, everything is done so that someone else feels good. If you want to play in European competitions, earn money and set high goals in the league at the same time, then be kind - buy and declare 30 equivalent players for the season, but do not kill the sporting principle and interest in domestic competitions. By the way, we have a game in the Ukrainian Cup this week. Despite this, we are not complaining, but are ready to play the match on time.

- But the clubs say that they are fighting for Ukraine's ranking in European competitions and prestige in the international arena. Is this really true, or is it just a fight for their own interests?

- We hear similar rhetoric from these clubs all the time and everywhere. But the teams have plenty of time to recover. For example, Dnipro-1 will play league matches three days after the European Cups. They will have the same break before the next game. As for the struggle for the country's ranking, our European Cup fighters have already "fought" so hard that next season, instead of five clubs in the European Cups, we will most likely have four. And not least because the championship provides them with a warm bath and a mild, temperate climate. We understand that Dnipro-1 has found itself in a difficult situation in the league, losing its head coach, and the team needs a break to reboot. But these are Dnipro-1's problems, not ours. Why should someone else solve their problems at our expense?

- Is it realistic to change something now and equalise the clubs' rights?

- At the moment, the Regulations have been approved, and clubs playing in European competitions will rely on them. It is difficult to do anything about it at the moment. Once again, I want to emphasise that Rukh supports those clubs that play in the European arena and supports them in European tournaments, but we emphasise that everyone should be on an equal footing. Each club has its own tasks and we want this position to be perceived with understanding and respect. Therefore, we once again call on all clubs to urgently hold the UPL General Meeting on this crucial issue and amend the Regulations, as the rights of most clubs have been violated to please the selected teams.