Former Spartak Moscow midfielder Alexander Mostovoy speaks on refereeing in Russian football
Alexander Mostovoy, once a midfielder for Russia’s national team and a familiar figure at Moscow club Spartak, has offered his assessment of the state of refereeing in Russian football. He argues that officiating continues to encounter significant challenges at every level of the game, and he explains the core reasons why this persists.
Mostovoy notes that referees frequently make errors from one match to the next. He contends that a fundamental problem lies in the fact that many referees have not played the sport professionally, which he believes limits their ability to fully grasp the dynamics of a live football event. In his view, an on-field decision cannot always be captured by rules alone. He suggests that the interpretation of incidents requires a feel for the rhythm of play, something that experience on the pitch helps to develop. In his words, referees often rely on formal manuals and templates, rather than the nuanced understanding that comes from firsthand involvement in the game. The result, according to Mostovoy, is a disconnect between written instructions and the real edge cases that occur during matches.
He adds that decisions are sometimes driven by what referees read in their official guides rather than what is observed on the field. The process, as described, involves a reliance on texts that prescribe universal signals, which may not always align with the rapid and evolving nature of football. This misalignment, he argues, can lead to penalties being awarded or denied in ways that do not reflect the actual events unfolding in front of them. The former midfielder emphasizes that the penalties and carding decisions should grow from a clear understanding of the game’s flow, not solely from rigid rulebooks.
Recent events in Russian football have brought the issue to the forefront. After a sequence of Russian Cup matches, two referees faced suspensions as a consequence of their on-field performances. The suspensions underscored the ongoing debate about how refereeing is reviewed, graded, and held to account within the league. The public discourse surrounding these cases highlights a demand for higher consistency and accountability in officiating across competitions.
In a high-profile match between Zenit and Dynamo, the on-field official did not award a penalty after a VAR review contrary to some expectations. A Zenit player appeared to collide with a Dynamo defender near the edge of the penalty area as he attempted to strike the ball from outside the box. The contact resulted in a fall, and the ensuing review did not lead to a penalty call. This episode fueled discussions about the balance between a referee’s initial judgment and the guidance offered by video assistance, a balance that is still being calibrated in Russian top-flight football. The incident also touched on the broader question of how VAR guidance should influence in-game decisions and the thresholds for intervention by the officiating team.
Another notable case occurred in the Spartak versus Ural match, where critics argued that the VAR process did not prompt the head referee to re-examine a particular moment. The discussion focused on whether the involvement of the video assistant referee could or should lead to a different outcome, and whether the sequence of events in that game might have benefited from closer scrutiny. The debate illustrates the complexities of integrating technology with live officiating while preserving the fluid pace and authority of the game on the pitch.
Formerly Dmitry Guberniev addressed remarks about judicial fairness in Russian professional football, including matters connected with recent decisions and public commentary. The exchange underscored a broader interest in ensuring that refereeing practices, disciplinary actions, and overall governance within the league are transparent and consistent. As fans, players, coaches, and administrators continue to weigh the implications of officiating quality, there is a sense that meaningful reform will require collaboration across institutions, leagues, and national associations to align expectations and improve the reliability of decisions on match days. The ongoing conversation reflects a shared desire to see football officiating elevated to meet the standards that fans expect and players deserve, with clear criteria and accountable processes guiding every call on the field.