Ukrainian referee Mykola Balakin recalled his work at the Champions League match between Real Sociedad and Salzburg in November 2023. He became the first Ukrainian since 1998 to officiate a group stage game in the Champions League. He spoke about this in an interview with the YouTube channel "Bombardir".
Mykola Balakin. Photo: Getty Images«You couldn't show your nervousness, we set ourselves up like that. After the game, my assistant said: "Was this the Champions League"? I said: "Yes — it's an ordinary game, like in the region".
When 60,000 sing, the Champions League anthem is not so clearly heard. You understand that you watched the Champions League as a child, but there is responsibility. Emotions are emotions, but a cool head is needed and let's go. For a couple of seconds, yes, we are here, yes, everyone is watching us. It was a very intense game, the pace is different and the speed of thinking of the footballers.
We have four training sessions a week plus a game. Now the referees' committee has introduced a new test for us, so it's work almost every day.
I remember during the match of the French national team, Griezmann really impressed me. In that match, Giroud was still playing, and I remember how the assistant told me: "Did you feel the atmosphere of the Stade de France?" And I told him: "I couldn't take my head off the field because they play so fast, these diagonals," said Balakin.
