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.
— 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.