Maryna Streletska: “Our people are unbreakable. I've been seeing this for over a month. I want us all to hold on. "

12.04.2022 19:07

Assistant arbitrator Marina Streletskaya (right) is temporarily working in Switzerland

Ukrainian assistant arbitrator Maryna Streletska told about her activities in Switzerland and shared her own attitude to the war.

Against the background of Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine, domestic arbitrator Maryna Streletskaya was forced to to move to Switzerland, where she had the opportunity to work on matches of the third local division, and recently was appointed and for the selection match of the women's World Cup-2023. Our compatriot told about how she does her job today.

"For two hours of a football match, I forget about everything. About what happened at home. I only see defenders, attackers and make decisions. It's good that I can't think about the war for at least two hours…

Honestly, when I was packing my bags, I cried a lot and didn't believe I had to leave. For me it is the second time because I am from Donbass. When we left in 2014, it was difficult. A month or two was very difficult morally. However, at that time everything was more or less good - I came to the Dnieper, I understood that it was Ukraine. She found a job there, served games in the championship of Ukraine. Everything was relatively good, only the parents stayed in Donbass. And now I do not want to leave my country. I love her, I want to live in Ukraine.

My paternal grandmother is from Russia, from Siberia. I can say that I am half Russian. But they aroused such a feeling of hatred that I could not even think that I could hate someone so much.

My sister tried to help me with these negative emotions, the hatred that lived and throbbed in my blood constantly. And she really helped me, because in a week or so I started to feel better. But I did not feel any emotions - just walking some empty body.

Luciano Luci wrote a letter to the Swiss Football Association asking me to be appointed to some games. Last Saturday I had a match of the third division. Switzerland has a slightly different system - they appoint arbitrators for a whole month. That's why I have a game every weekend.

It is difficult for Kateryna Monzul now - I talk to her every day, I see how difficult it is for her morally. Probably because she has parents there. Probably because Kharkiv suffered more. It is destroyed, I see in the video. It's terrible.

The Russians must feel our pain. Many thanks to UEFA and FIFA for making it impossible for Russian teams to play and for referees to judge. They say they are "out of politics", but they elected this president, they elected him. Yes, they do not feel that their relatives are dying in them. But they must realize that they are exiles.

Our people are unbreakable. I've been seeing this for over a month. I want us all to hold on. I want us to meet one day and drink a glass of champagne for the victory. Let's hold on, because everything will be Ukraine. Glory to Ukraine!" - said Maryna Streletskaya on the air TV programs "Football NEWS".