Obolon CEO Oleksandr Riznichenko commented toUVon the scandalous situation that developed after the 1-1 match with Chornomorets in the 18th round of the Ukrainian championship.
Alexander Riznichenko- Oleksandr Ivanovych, is it true that the UAF SCC fined Obolon?
- Yes, it is. And it came as a big surprise to us. Yesterday, the club received a decision from UAF CDC chairman Vitalii Naum that we had violated the regulations. The document states: Article 42 of the disciplinary rules, Article 15 of the UPL regulations.
- What exactly did you violate?
- The match against Chornomorets was delayed by three minutes. Two minutes were delayed because of the Chornomorets team, because they came out of the locker room late, and one minute was due to a symbolic kick on the ball by the Hero of Ukraine who defended Okhtyrka - Colonel Denys Leonidovych Dykyi, commander of the 91st separate operational support regiment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
UAF delegate Yuriy Nestryga made the following conclusion in his report: "The pre-match activities did not include time for a symbolic kick-off, which shifted the start of the game by one minute."
This is not true! Before the match, we provided the delegate with a letter in which paragraph 18 stated that a symbolic kick by the military was planned. I also said at the meeting before the match that we were not absolutely sure that the military would come to the match.
We did not inform him about the symbolic event and wanted to surprise him. The hero was really pleased, we presented him with a T-shirt signed by the players, a ball and a scarf, and the Obolon president talked to him. Thanks to such heroes, we can play football in this difficult time, for which we are extremely grateful.
Do you know what he told us about the mobilisation and the situation with the booking of players?
- What?
- Everyone should do their job. The military should fight, and footballers should play football. Denys Leonidovych saw death with his own eyes and pulled his subordinates out from under the rubble when the occupiers dropped vacuum bombs on Okhtyrka. It was his brigade that stopped the enemy on the outskirts of Okhtyrka when the orcs were attacking with hundreds of tanks and armoured personnel carriers.
- What fine did the UAF SCC impose on Obolon?
- Three thousand hryvnias. It's not a lot of money and it's not about finances, we were outraged by the moral component and ethical approach of the UAF representatives to the issue. The second point is that I started asking questions: "Why didn't the UAF notify Obolon Football Club when it opened the proceedings so that we could provide explanations?" When there are controversial issues, I always go to the CDC meeting and personally express my position.
- And what did they say to you?
- I was told that when a fine of up to UAH 25,000 is imposed, according to the regulations, the head of the SCC can make a decision alone. I took the regulations. Indeed, Article 42, paragraph 1.3 provides for this. Most importantly, paragraph 2 of the decision states that in accordance with Article 83, paragraph 2 of the UAF Disciplinary Rules, the decision is not subject to appeal! Do you understand the conditions in which clubs are put?
We had hoped that with the arrival of the new UAF leadership, the approach to clubs would change, but, unfortunately, nothing has changed so far.
- What did Obolon president Oleksandr Slobodyan tell you about this?
- Oleksandr Slobodian is very outraged by the situation. We provided positive emotions to the Hero of Ukraine, but we were imposed with fines and the situation was falsely reflected in the report. This is not fair to the military. Such things cannot be hushed up.
- How could this happen?
- The UAF CDC regulations cannot contradict the legislation of Ukraine. Every citizen has the right to receive information. The regulations clearly state that the match delegate must inform the club of his comments, but it does not say that this should be in writing by letter to the club. Nestryga did not say a word to me. Decisions that are made in secret do not do the UAF any honour.
I would understand if it was our team's fault, but Obolon left the dugout 10 minutes before kick-off, when even the referees were not on the pitch. The referees then waited for the visiting team and the fourth referee could not stand it, went to the door of the Chornomorets dressing room and started whistling for them to come out.
But maybe it was force majeure, some of the guests, God forbid, got sick, so there was a delay. You need to take into account all the nuances, but office workers don't understand anything, they are not interested in anything but the regulations. What about the human factor?
- You can contact Andriy Shevchenko via our website.
- I understand that Shevchenko did not have a very good legacy in the UAF, but he is a young man with a European vision of football, so we hope that the UAF's attitude towards clubs will change for the better in all areas. We can't have clubs being disenfranchised! The association needs to discuss controversial issues, to be an open organisation, and not just to be presented with the fact after the decision has been made. If there are no clubs, there will be no UAF.
Shevchenko has selected a very good team, which the football community trusts. First and foremost, it is Serhiy Rebrov, because he is a talented coach, manager and person. We understand that it is impossible to change everything in one day, but we hope that gradually our football will change for the better. First of all, we need to start with such ugly moments in relation to the military.
Andrii Piskun
