Famous commentator Igor Tsyhanyk expressed his own opinion about the current level of the Ukrainian championship.
"I understood that our football is in a mess, but I never imagined it would be in such a mess. I was bleeding from my eyes when I watched these matches (referring to the playoff matches in UPL - ed.), because I understand: we are lowering the elite status to the level of collective farm football. I do not want to in any way criticize “Kudrivka,” “Poltava,” “Metalist 1925,” or “Epitsentr,” they are good teams. But the elite status must imply the presence of some infrastructure to reach this elite status.
We are at a terrible low. The players of “Kudrivka,” the players of other first league clubs have resolved the tasks, but what level are these competitions? A team that has no foundation goes further. “Poltava” has no own school, which is a pity. “Vorskla” has missed so many opportunities against “Kudrivka”... Our level is so low that there is nowhere else to go.
That “Vorskla” and “Chornomorets” were relegated is a pity because these clubs have schools. That their owners "forgot" about the clubs is also a pity. Big cities are leaving, villages are coming — this dilutes the level. Elite status must be earned not only by playing but by building a club,” said Tsyhanyk on the air of his author’s program on YouTube.