What really happened in the scandalous match between Veres and Shakhtar

Shakhtar defender Mykola Matvienko explained what happened at the end of the first half of the UPL second-round match against Veres. They scored a goal after which the opponent made a scandal remark saying that it was done outside the rules.

Our compatriots were awarded a free-kick in the 46th minute. Matvienko came to the spot, head referee Oleksandr Shandor blew the whistle and while the opponents were trying to put up a wall and the goalkeeper was communicating with the defenders, Mykola shot accurately into the goal.

This goal was a complete surprise for Veres. Shandor pointing to the whistle was interpreted by the Rivne players as "kicking only on the whistle".

"I took the ball and went up to the referee. He pointed to the whistle and asked me if I would kick on the whistle. I answered that I would not, took the ball and shot. This is a question for Veres players. Why they did not sort it out? It is neither a referee nor our problem," Matviyenko is quoted by Shakhtar's press service.

Veres head coach Serhiy Lavrynenko said that Matvienko hit without signaling Shandor while commenting on the incident.

"The players said that in the episode with a conceded goal, the referee pointed to the whistle while speaking in the locker room at halftime. That means putting the ball into play on the whistle. Therefore, everyone dispersed. Shakhtar's player shot and scored a goal without the referee's permission. It's up to the Referees' Committee to sort it out. The guys say that he pointed to the whistle. They started to sort out the positions according to our game plan on standards. That's how it is," Lavrynenko said in an interview with the club press service.

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