Lifetime Ban Sought for VAR Referee by Zhytomyr's Polissya After Dynamo Clash.

Polissya Club's Demand Against VAR Official

According to Novyny.live: Following a 1–2 defeat in the 19th round of the Ukrainian Premier League (UPL) against Kyiv's Dynamo, Zhytomyr-based football club Polissya has formally requested the Ukrainian Association of Football (UAF) to impose a lifetime suspension on VAR referee Denys Shurman. The decision was made after what the club describes as two critical officiating errors.

In a statement signed by club president Hennadiy Butkevych and first vice-president Oleksandr Usyk, Polissya highlighted that the first controversial incident occurred in the 21st minute when a goal scored by the team was disallowed. The second flashpoint came in the 45+3rd minute, when Dynamo player Kristian Bilovar was not shown a red card for a foul. These officiating mistakes were later confirmed as errors by the chief refereeing expert, Nicola Rizzoli.

Tensions in Ukrainian Football

Currently sitting third in the UPL standings, Polissya holds a one-point lead over Dynamo. In its appeal, the club stressed the gravity of the situation, stating:

“We request the lifelong suspension of Denys Shurman from refereeing activities.”

These events have sparked widespread discussion within the football community and among fans closely watching how the situation unfolds.

This controversy underscores the existing pressure in Ukrainian football, especially during high-stakes matches where refereeing decisions can significantly impact team standings. Polissya's demand for a lifetime ban may reflect growing concerns among clubs about the quality of officiating and its effect on league competitiveness. How the UAF responds could have serious implications for its reputation among both fans and member clubs.