The Honorary President of the Russian Football Union, Vyacheslav Koloskov, expressed support for a bold move: referees in the Russian Premier League and the Russian Cup would declare their decisions in the stadium after reviewing plays with the video assistant referee system. His comments were noted in connection with the ongoing legal betting conversations surrounding the change.
Koloskov remarked that anything unusual often starts with fear. He wondered how loudly the referees’ announcements would echo through the arena. In hockey, the explanations are clearly audible; the football stadiums might not always capture every word, but if the aim is to inform the audience, there is a purpose behind it. He described the concept with a single word: extraordinary.
He added that there is a desire to be pioneers. If other federations have experimented with similar measures, their analyses would be considered. He questioned how much football could benefit from such transparency, yet he warned that dismissing the idea outright would be a mistake. He supported the initiative, even if its usefulness remains to be fully proven.
On February 26, the Russian Football Union announced its participation in an experiment conducted by the International Football Association Board and FIFA.
Under the plan, referees in national championship and cup matches would begin announcing their decisions after VAR intervention. These verbal decisions would be heard both inside the stadium and on television during the spring portion of the 2023/24 season.
Meanwhile, the Russian championship schedule continued into early March. After 18 rounds, Krasnodar topped the table with 38 points, taking the winter break as leaders. Zenit followed two points behind, while Dinamo rounded out the top three with 32 points.
In the shadow of these developments, youth players in Russia continued to train and develop, preparing for a future where clarity and accountability on the pitch might become a more common feature of the game.