Ukraine, outraged after the draw against Italy: “UEFA mafia?”

Ukraine you will have to look for the ticket for the Euro 2024 in the play-off next March and will do so after almost qualifying directly against Italy, in the last game of Group C. At the Bayern Arena in Leverkusen, the Ukrainians tied against the current champion (0-0) in a match that could change in the 93rd minute, with a possible penalty not called by Gil Manzano. And the Spanish referee did not even go to the VAR to review the action of Cristante on Mudryk in the 93rd minute.

The tie leaves Ukraine third in the group, with the same points as Italy (14). The Ukrainians will look for their ticket to the European Championship in Germany in the play-offs, but the Ukrainian newspapers are very critical of UEFA and Gil Manzano.

“‘UEFA mafia?’, headlines the newspaper X Sport in the chronicle of the duel. “At the end of the match, referee Jesús Gil Manzano made a series of decisions in favor of the Italians. He avoided the tragedy. The Spaniard did not react to the elbow to the Ukrainian team midfielder Heorhiy Sudakov, nor to a foul committed near the rival area. The icing on the cake was a missed penalty on Mykhailo Mudryk. The referee didn’t even go to check the VAR“says the aforementioned newspaper.

Ceferin’s words that now resonate in Ukraine

In Ukraine, the statements of the UEFA president still resonate, Alexander Ceferinon October 21 about what it would mean if Italy, the current European champion, were not at next summer’s event in Germany.

“If Italy does not qualify for the Euro Cup it would be a catastrophe“, declared then the top leader of European football.

Sergei RebrovUkrainian coach, did not want to go further after the match despite clarifying that he believes that there was a penalty on Mudryk.

“The VAR is the one who decides and not us. The field referee was not called to verify what happened. For me it was a penalty, but there is a VAR that did not consider it appropriate to call the referee“Rebrov said.

The ghosts of the play-offs hovered over Italy for 90 minutes, but the Italian team resisted and took a point that will allow them to defend their crown next summer. Ukraine, for its part, must look for the ticket next March.