Ural Football Club president Grigory Ivanov announced an intention to appeal to the Expert Referee Commission, chaired by the president of the Russian Football Union, after the outcomes of the 24th round of the Russian Premier League. The statements came following the clash with Rostov, a 3-1 result in Rostov-on-Don. The comments were reported by Sport Express.
“Tomorrow we will reach out to the Expert Referee Commission after the Rostov match. But what does that mean? It seems every change in football is turning the sport into television theater. A midfield sequence saw Vloot advance through the middle, Bicfalvi control and then finish. Yet the referee halted play because Vloot’s hand touched the ball, a call that sparked debate. Why rely on VAR for a midfield moment when the contact occurred during a loose ball rebound? It was not a deliberate handball, and the ball touched the player by chance from the opponent’s touch,” Ivanov stated.
The game in Yekaterinburg on April 23 finished with Rostov-on-Don securing a 3-1 triumph over Ural. Striker Nikolai Komlichenko found the net twice, in the 19th and 50th minutes, pushing his season tally to 11 goals in the RPL. Croatian midfielder Daniel Mishkic also contributed a late effort to keep Ural hopeful, with a goal in the 80th minute, but Rostov Responded with Maxim Osipenko’s penalty in the 90th minute to seal the win.
For Ural, the defeat marked a fifth consecutive loss in the league, a streak that has tested the squad’s resilience. Rostov, by contrast, extended its unbeaten run to six matches, underscoring a period of strong form as the season moves toward its latter stages.
Analysts noted that the match highlighted broader discussions within Russian football about officiating and the role of video technology in decision-making. Sergey Yuran, formerly the coach of Paris Nizhny Novgorod, commented on Rostov’s victory against Krylia Sovetov, signaling the shifting dynamics in league competition and the expectations fans place on refereeing standards. The commentary reflected a growing demand for clarity and consistency in officiating, as supporters and clubs alike seek to balance the pace of the game with fair outcomes. [Sport Express]