Denis Shurman: "UAF management and the arbitration committee helped me continue my career"

04.04.2022 17:01

In an interview with the official UAF website, Ukrainian referee Denis Shurman told how he found himself in Germany during the war and how he managed to continue his career far from home.

"When hostilities broke out, my family and I had to leave Vyshneve, where we lived, for the Zhytomyr Region," Shurman said. - But even there it became dangerous later. My son has a disease that needs to be constantly monitored. Some medicines have to be ordered abroad. And given the interruptions that began with the drugs, my wife and I decided to take the child to Europe.

At first we went to visit relatives in Poland, but then friends suggested that it was possible to find housing in Hamburg. That's what we did. First of all, they registered on the spot, drew up all the necessary documents, including health insurance. And only after that they were able to go to the doctor and get the right to purchase the necessary drugs. When we solved the first task, we had to think about how and for what to live next. And here, taking this opportunity, I would like to thank the leadership of the UAF, the arbitration committee and, in particular, Luciano Luci, who helped me prepare a letter of appeal to the German Football Association. For some time I received a call from the chairman of the German Arbitration Committee, who was already aware of my situation. At first, I was invited to a match just to get acquainted, to adapt to local realities, and on April 1, I refereed one of the matches of the German fifth division and was already assigned to the game of the fourth league. I also received an invitation to take part in a seminar for Bundesliga referees.

By the way, a large Ukrainian community lives in Hamburg. But even the Germans themselves condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine. People support refugees in every possible way and constantly offer help. We have joined the group on social networks and will now take part in various actions and rallies in support of our country. I really want to believe that the war will end soon, and the one who unleashed this bloodshed will be severely punished.