The Sporting Director of Fakel Voronezh, Kirill Kotov, addressed the Ukrainian Football Federation’s accusations that he was involved in fixed matches. He rejected the claims outright and dismissed them as groundless. In a statement reported by Sports Express, Kotov said he would not engage with what he described as nonsense, noting that the allegations had no basis in reality and were not worth further discussion.
Meanwhile, Francesco Baranka, who chairs the Ethics and Fair Play Committee of the Football Federation of Ukraine, disclosed new allegations against Fakel, accusing the club of participating in fixed matches. Baranka suggested that individuals from Ukraine were relocating to Russia amid a broader trend of scammers targeting Russian football. He also named Igor Kalinin, a defender, as the subject of suspicion regarding fixed matches in Ukraine. Kalinin had been implicated in a 2015 case involving Zorya Lugansk, where he and several teammates were accused of match manipulation. Although most players were dismissed, Kalinin remained with the club and was alleged to have acted as the organizer. Reports indicate he underwent a lie detector test as part of the inquiry, with varying results and subsequent charges dropping in his favor. The Ukrainian football authorities have stressed that these matters are being pursued with due process and intent to uncover any manipulation of results that could undermine the sport’s integrity.
Fakel Voronezh has been a participant in the Russian Premier League since the 2022 23 season. After seventeen rounds of competition, the team under coach Dmitry Pyatibratov sits in thirteenth place on the league table. The club’s performance has been examined in conjunction with ongoing investigations into match integrity across the league, with league officials reiterating their commitment to fair play and transparency. Observers note that the cross-border tensions surrounding football governance have intensified scrutiny on clubs that recently joined the Russian top flight, and critics argue that rigorous checks are essential to maintain credibility in both domestic and international contexts. Supporters and analysts alike emphasize that the sport’s reputation depends on consistent enforcement of ethics rules, independent investigations, and clear consequences for any proven wrongdoing, regardless of a club’s history or standing. In this climate, Fakel’s leadership has underscored their readiness to cooperate with relevant authorities and to provide requested information to ensure that competitive integrity remains intact across the league and its broader ecosystem.