Reply to the decision of Expert Refereeing Commission

The Russian Expert Refereeing Commission has viewed an episode of PFC CSKA vs. Amkar match and resolved, by one deciding vote, that it was a kind of foul on Krasic, but it wasn't a kind of penalty.

According to pronounced judgement, PFC CSKA consider it necessary to give our view on this matter. Without any “kind of”.

We believe that the foul on our player is obvious and this is distinctly seen on a photo. Let's take a look at another photo for comparison (an episode from Tom vs. PFC CSKA match). Our defender Sergey Ignashevish does not use a wrestling clench, but the referee pointed to the spot with confidence.

But the most shocking thing is that the decision of The Russian Expert Refereeing Commission was made under influence of the contacts of Mr. Zuev (the Head of Russian Referees' Committee) with press. A few days before the Commission meeting Mr. Zuev arranged a true show with journalists, during which he has not only discussed a serious refereeing mistake with non-specialists, but also has thrusted his opinion on everybody by proposing to PFC CSKA to “present photos from Space” for greater convincingness.

We consider these actions from Head of Russian Referees' Committee as absolutely inadmissible. We hardly can imagine the Head of UEFA Referees' Committee to discuss with press the mistakes of his subordinates. Because there is no reason for the show.

Unfortunately, the behaviour of  Russian Referees' Committee management and the decision of  the Expert Refereeing Commission has left many questions again. It was another demonstration of the absence of unified methods of the referees preparation, and this allows to interpret identical episodes with double standards.

As a result of this we reserve to ourselves the right to appeal to the UEFA Referees' Committee with a request to obtain a professional assessment of the aforesaid episodes.

At the desire of  Russian Referees' Committee we present “photos from Space”. We offer to fans to decide themselves, in which episode there were more grounds to point to the spot.

The answers should have to be sent to Mr. Zuev,  Russian Referees' Committee.