Former Kryvbas SMM specialist Roman Lopatin commented on his decision not to return to Ukraine after leaving the club for abroad.
"Nobody instructed me to return to Ukraine and I didn't sign anything"
- Roman, would you like to comment on the fact that you did not return to Ukraine after the Kryvbas women's team went abroad?
- I don't understand why it resonated so much. Officially, I did not break any law, the Constitution of Ukraine does not prohibit either leaving or entering. I left officially, I did not cross the border illegally.
The journalists spun my story against the backdrop of the hype about Shakhtar player Rosputko's decision to go to Russia. It was a total trash.
I had some family circumstances that I cannot talk about publicly, so I decided not to return [to Ukraine]. I resigned from Kryvbas in advance.
During the war, Dovbyk, Trubin, Mudryk, and Garmash left us. Why is everyone silent about them? And I've named only the most famous players. We have some kind of double standards. I did not break relations with Ukraine, I have supported, support and will continue to support my country and continue to donate. What exactly am I charged with?
- Ukraine is currently under martial law and men of military age are not allowed to travel abroad. You were travelling with the permission of the Ministry of Youth and Sports as part of the Kryvbas delegation and had to return to Ukraine in a certain number of days.
- No one instructed me on this and I didn't sign anything saying I had to return. I understand that this is a difficult time for Ukraine and such issues are a delicate matter.
"My departure happened in the middle of summer, three months ago, when the Kryvbas women's team went to Poland for a friendly. My relatives came there and took me away."
- Kryvbas did not know that you were not planning to return, and the Kryvyi Rih team appealed to the police, the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, and the border guards about this. Is it true?
- I don't know. I haven't even heard that. Why would they contact the police? I did not break any law.
- You say you resigned from the club in advance. Why then were you part of Kryvbas' delegation on the road?
- I promised that I would finish the training camp because I didn't want to let the club down. We have settled everything legally with Kryvbas, and I am grateful to them for the year I have worked for them. It was cool.
- Did Kryvbas know that you would not be returning to Ukraine?
- I don't think they knew. It's just that I had some family circumstances. My family is abroad.
- You said that you worked through the training camp and left, but according to the media, your departure happened during the Women's Champions League matches, so where is the truth?
- This is not true about the Women's Champions League. My departure happened in the middle of summer, three months ago, when the Kryvbas women's team went to Poland for control matches. My relatives came there and took me away, that's all.
- Have you been in touch with Kryvbas since your departure?
- No, no one called me, and neither did I. We severed our relations in the legal plane and wished each other success.
"I have signed a contract with the fifth league club in Germany - Cedenik. The presentation will be held soon"
- How do you assess your actions from a moral point of view?
- There are certain circumstances in my life and from a moral point of view, I should be with my family now. I think anyone in my situation would do the same, because family comes first, and then all other issues.
- Viktor Vatsko said on his programme that he had heard from colleagues that you had long said that you were planning to move abroad. Is this true?
- No, I have not made any such plans.
- Where are you now?
- In Germany. As a footballer, I signed a contract with the fifth league club Cedenik. The presentation will be held soon. So I have the same situation as our other players who play abroad.
- Do you plan to return to Ukraine?
- Of course, when the circumstances change, but at the moment it is impossible.
- Because of the war?
- No, because of family circumstances. Now I have even more opportunities to support the country and do something useful.
- What can you say about Roman Medvedev, a photographer from Kryvbas who also did not return to Ukraine?
- He has his own story. I won't speak for another person.
Andriy Piskun
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