Ukrainian football referee Vitaliy Romanov recalled a scandalous episode that took place on October 31, 2012, in the match of the 1/8 finals of the Ukrainian Cup «Vorskla» — «Tavriya» (2:3) during an appearance on «TaToTake.» After the final whistle, the goalkeeper of «Tavriya,» Serhiy Pogoriliy, punched midfielder Artem Hromov in the face. Romanov was the chief referee of this match.
Vitaliy Romanov— Let me tell you an interesting story. The Ukrainian Cup, «Tavriya» and «Vorskla» played in Poltava. It was a nightmare for the referee — the weather, the pitch was very difficult, and no one wanted to give an inch. I blew the final whistle, I was anywhere but on the pitch. I sensed some movement was starting on the field and didn’t understand what was happening.
This is a unique case because I have never done this again. Yevhen Selin was playing for «Vorskla.» This person approached the referees and said, «Don’t you see? He punched him!» I didn’t see this, neither did the assistant. And I found myself at a crossroads: to believe a football player who might just be talking nonsense, or to trust him and issue a red card.
I listened to my intuition — I believed him, for which I am very grateful, because this episode passed in the media unnoticed; they simply said: «Romanov showed a red card.» I can only imagine what would have happened to me if I hadn’t shown the red card.
— You could have asked Hromov directly.
— How would that work? To approach him and say: «Didn’t they hit you?»?
— What happened?
— Hromov was far away, it was at the corner flag, we were in the center. And I didn’t even know at that time that Hromov had been hit. Selin took on the responsibility, approached, said — I believed him, and showed Pogoriliy the red card.
— What was Pogoriliy’s reaction?
— He accepted it, and I understood that Selin saved me in this case.
— Ultimately, you relied on your intuition, which assessed whether Selin could be lying in this situation?
— Yes. Taking this opportunity, I express my gratitude to the football player for such a noble act.
