If Torpedo is excluded from RPL, the championship will have 15 teams
Football expert Valery Masalitin expressed his views on the situation surrounding the "Torpedo" team in an exclusive interview with the publication "Evro-Futbol.Ru". This was reported by Euro-football.ru.
He noted that the fate of "Torpedo" in the Russian Premier League (RPL) is expected to be decided tomorrow. Masalitin mentioned that many controversies and disputes have arisen in the championship, and similar situations have been observed with the "Khimki" team as well.
He stated that he does not have specific information about direct monetary offers from the team's management, but emphasized that anything can happen in football. The expert also commented on the referee Bogdan Golovko, who did not award a penalty against "Torpedo" in the last round of the FNL, being detained by the police.
He highlighted that there are many referee errors in each round, and sometimes penalties are awarded or not awarded. He mentioned that suspecting referees after each mistake negatively impacts their work, and referees may feel pressured and may not want to continue their work.
If there is evidence—audio or video recordings—it is certainly necessary to investigate, but he emphasized that suspicions based solely on hearsay are unfair. He also noted that the likelihood of high-ranking individuals being in direct contact with referees is low.
Masalitin recalled reports in the media about 9 referees being suspected of accepting bribes, acknowledging that such situations can occur. He stressed the need to implement fair play rules in football and suggested that referees could undergo polygraph tests.
He stated that it is wrong to express doubts about players or referees after any mistake. If there are proven facts, appropriate measures should be taken.
However, he noted that it is difficult to determine who is suing whom. When it comes to the issue of "Torpedo" being demoted in the RPL before the season or waiting for a court decision, Masalitin emphasized the importance of adhering to sports principles, stating that the team is already at risk of being relegated to a lower league.
He pointed out that if the team is penalized by deducting 15 points, there would be no point in starting the championship. One of "Torpedo's" partners, Leonid Sobolev, mentioned that if the team is expelled from the RPL, they might disband.
Masalitin reminded that "Khimki" and many other teams have disappeared, emphasizing that "Torpedo" is an important team in the history of Soviet and Russian football. He also mentioned that if "Torpedo" is expelled from the RPL, one of the teams like "Orenburg" or "Ural" could take its place, or the championship could continue with 15 teams.
He stressed that this issue needs to be clearly resolved before the start of the championship, otherwise it could harm football. If referees or players are guilty, they must be held accountable, and decisions that serve the development of football must be made.
Interview author Elena Grigorievskaya.
