Oleg Protasov: "The matches of the championship demonstrate to the world indomitability and the winning spirit of our state"

01.08.2023 10:08

Photo of UAF press service

Oleh Protasov, the first vice-president of the Ukrainian Football Association, commented to the UAF press service about the start of the second football season under martial law.

— Olezh Valeriyovych, why is it so important to restore football during martial law?

— Ukraine needs football during the war! And it's not just about teams, players or fans. Using the example of the last championship, the first in history, which took place in the conditions of a full-scale war, we were convinced that football unites Ukrainians. The victories of the national team contribute to raising the patriotic spirit, and the championship matches demonstrate to the world the indomitability and victorious spirit of our state. Football has also become an important tool of social activity aimed at supporting the Armed Forces and families affected by Russian aggression.

To restore the national championship during the active phase of hostilities, which is still ongoing, is an extremely complex and complex task. Last year, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi put him in front of UAF President Andriy Pavelko. And it was fulfilled!

Preparation for the championship required promptness, clarity and, most importantly, cohesion from the UAF. And I want to say that today we are more united than ever before, because we realize that our main task is to preserve Ukrainian football.

Everyone knows that the UAF was attacked in the interests of the aggressor country for effective work to remove representatives of the Russian Federation from the international arena. There are attempts to destabilize the activities of the association from within. We faced unprecedented challenges! Legal pressure, ordered media attacks... At the end of last year, we also encountered attempts to interfere in the work of the executive bodies of the UAF due to pressure on our regional units. But, as I said, we did, are doing and will do everything in our power, despite all the challenges, to fulfill the task given by the President of Ukraine to restore football competitions.

— Is there a chance that in the current reality the fans will be allowed to return to the stands?

— As they say in such cases, we are working on it. The position of the Ministry of Youth Sports is known - we were denied the admission of fans to the stands. But, I repeat, we continue to work on this issue. On the eve of the start of the current championship, we held an extended meeting with the participation of representatives of law enforcement agencies. We propose to increase the quota of those present at the match. Now we are talking about 280 people, we propose to increase it significantly. We can realistically see ways to implement this initiative with strict observance of all safety nuances.

— How would you rate the level of organization of matches at the start of the new season?

— The experience of last season helps us a lot. Currently, competitions in the UPL, the U-19 championship, the first league of the PFL and the Cup of Ukraine have started. We have no significant comments. Yes, the air alarm did not allow part of the matches to end on time. But here, unfortunately, we cannot do anything. We perceive it as the reality of today.

Despite the state of war, we are constantly working to improve the organizational and sports level of competitions. In particular, in the UPL, we plan to use the VAR system in all matches of the tour already this season. For this, before the season, additional training of specialists working with the system was conducted. In the opening round of the UPL, the VAR system worked for three matches, but already in the coming rounds, the number of such games will be increased.

I already mentioned that we resumed the draw of the Cup of Ukraine. We are also waiting for the start of competitions in the second league of the PFL, women's championship, amateur championships and DUFLU. Despite the war, the UAF did not stop its work even for a day and now continues its activities in the development of football. Yes, in all competitions we focus not only on the sports component, but also on the safety of the participants in the matches and the people involved in the stadium. But these are the realities of our existence. And we never tire of thanking the Armed Forces of Ukraine for their courage and heroism and the opportunity to play football on the territory of our country!