Rostov captain Danil Glebov spoke about the events surrounding the clash with CSKA, indicating that the chief referee, Rafael Shafeev, did not make the call to postpone the game. His remarks, highlighted by Bookmaker rating, cast doubt on the official narrative and pointed to a confusion that fans and players watched unfold on and off the field.
Glebov suggested that the decision-making process appeared more like a performance than a clear, decisive act. He asked why the referee would tolerate players continuing in such weather, yet whistle each time a ball was moved or a shovel brushed a patch of snow. The captain stressed that the announcement of a postponement did not come from the official who was expected to decide, and that the statement attributed to him did not reflect his actions. He emphasized his own inquiry, noting that when he approached the referee for clarification, the reply was simply that no decision had been made. Glebov described the situation as inconsistent and not easily understood, making it seem as if multiple voices were presenting competing explanations rather than a single, unambiguous stance.
On December 3, Rostov fell to CSKA in Moscow by a score of 0 to 2, with the goals coming from Fedor Chalov and Victor Mendez. The result added another layer to the day’s tensions as players, staff, and supporters debated what might have been had schedule changes been more decisively communicated beforehand.
The decision about whether to begin the match was reportedly made shortly before kickoff. The match did start as planned at the scheduled time, yet the field in Moscow remained a focal point of discussion because snow hindered clear conditions. Ground staff worked during the game to clear the penalty area with shovels, attempting to manage the playing surface while the game progressed, a scene that underscored the challenges posed by severe winter weather on professional play.
After the final whistle, Rostov’s head coach expressed strong discontent, characterizing the person who had authorized a postponement as unwise and ill-considered. The coach’s blunt appraisal reflected broader frustration within the Rostov camp regarding how the postponement decision was handled and communicated to the public and to the teams involved, suggesting a need for more transparent and timely decision-making in the future.
The incident drew remarks from former Russian national team coaches, who weighed in on how such situations should be managed. The discussion centered on the balance between player safety, competitive integrity, and the practical realities of staging a top-tier match when weather imposes significant risks. In retrospect, the wider football community recognized the importance of clear protocols and consistent communication to avoid ambiguity in similar scenarios and to preserve faith in the enforcement of competition rules and schedules.