Conference League, Ukrainian team protests Turkish referee: “UEFA should change him, he’s pro-Russian” – Football

Thursday the Betis Seville will meet l’FC Kryvbas in the play-offs of Conference LeagueUkrainian club challenges Turkish referee Arda Brothersaccusing him of being pro-Russian and calling for his replacement: “In 2024, he refereed a friendly between Russia and Serbia,” reads a statement from the club, which is based in the city of Kryvyi Rih, in southeastern Ukraine, one of the largest iron-working centers in Eastern Europe. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is also said to be a sympathizer for the team in the red jersey.

Friendly match between Russia and Serbia

FC Kryvbas’ appeal to UEFA was not supported by Betis, who, through the Spanish press, let it be known that they were indifferent to the choice of referee. For the Ukrainian club, many of whose fans have left for the front, the issue is of great importance, to the point that they announced that they were considering not taking part in the match. In fact, Arda was said to have refereed a friendly between the national teams of Serbia and Russia last March, despite the latter being banned from international competitions.

The statement from the Ukrainian club

Asking the FC Kryvbas management to “challenge” the referee at UEFA it was the supporters themselves. And the club therefore emphasizes that Arda’s choice “discredits our club in front of the Kryvbas fans”. In the note, the Ukrainian club emphasizes that the team’s participation in the Conference League preliminaries – which give access to the group stage – is possible only thanks to “the Ukrainian army, which constantly defends our country with courage, protecting it from Russian invaders”.