Rostov submitted a formal appeal to the Expert Referee Commission of the Russian Football Union after the sixth round Russian Premier League clash against Moscow Lokomotiv, a move reported by Championship.com through the RFU’s press service. The appeal centers on the alleged error in judgment by the primary referee, Vladimir Moskalev, who did not award a penalty when Lokomotiv defender Zherzino Nyamsi struck the ball into Rostov forward Maxim Osipenko inside the penalty area during the 61st minute, a moment that could have shifted the match’s momentum and possibly altered the outcome.
Analysts and former officials quickly weighed in, with Igor Fedotov, a former referee in the Russian Premier League, labeling the non-call as scandalous and signaling that there was significant controversy surrounding the match officials’ decision. Such declarations contribute to an ongoing conversation about refereeing standards and the consistency of penalty decisions in high-stakes league fixtures, and they underscore the scrutiny that matches in the RPL routinely attract from stakeholders and fans alike.
The venue for the confrontation was the RZD Arena in Moscow, where Lokomotiv ultimately secured a 3-2 victory. The opening goal came from Alexey Batrakov in the 10th minute, setting the tempo for a tense encounter. Lokomotiv’s other marks were delivered by Ilya Samoshnikov just before halftime in the 37th minute and Nair Tiknizyan shortly after the break in the 46th minute, while Rostov responded through Ronaldo, finding the back of the net in the 13th minute and again in stoppage time at 90+6. The match was broadcast as a live online write-up by socialbites.ca, providing real-time updates as the drama unfolded on the pitch.
Six rounds into the season, Lokomotiv sits at the top of the standings with 15 points, one clear of Zenit St. Petersburg, who have collected 14. Rostov, meanwhile, finds themselves positioned in the middle of the table, currently occupying eighth place with eight points. The standings reflect a competitive campaign where every result and decision reverberates through the early-season table, and Lokomotiv’s performance up to this point has been marked by a combination of resilience and offensive efficiency that keeps them in pole position.
Earlier in the campaign, there were indications from officials or observers that the refereeing decisions in the Lokomotiv versus Rostov match might have deviated from expectations, with some voices acknowledging mistakes when reviewing the officiating process. This ongoing discourse illustrates the broader dialogue within Russian football about referee accountability and consistency, and it contributes to a wider expectation that any disputed calls in major fixtures will be examined with transparency and rigor by the governing bodies and the media alike. [citation attribution]