Journalist and commentator Viktor Vatsko refuted information that Bayer’s striker Artem Stepanov refused to come to the youth national team of Ukraine because physical force was used against him there.
Viktor Vatsko“I say in advance, whether someone likes it or not, if some football player is called up to the national team of Ukraine in the future and he refuses, for me, this is a red line. And I absolutely do not care who is his patron in football.
But why are they so alarmed now, why did Melgosa get worked up and start some investigations? Because in that letter from Bayer, it is written in black and white that it was Unai Melgosa who promised Artem Stepanov a call-up to his U-21 team, and then he changed the story and said that the player would be playing for U-20, training with U-21 and playing for U-20.
Last week, I had a conversation with a person close to the Stepanov family. I was curious to find out what kind of physical force our bloggers started spreading information about because physical force is indeed serious. If any of the coaches hit the child, I believe that is serious, I think they should be punished for that.
It’s clear that the Stepanov family is offended by me, I understand and accept this; I would probably also be offended if I were in their place. But regarding the national team, what is the truth? I was also told that there was no physical force,” Vatsko said.
