Controversial Cup final: Head referee responds to questions (video)

On October 30, a meeting was held at the Uzbekistan Football Association between the head of the Uzbekistan Football Referees Center (UzFRC), Mamur Saidqosimov, and media representatives to discuss the controversial decisions made during the Uzbekistan Cup final match.

The referee team led by head referee Naim Qosimov, along with assistant referees Zufar Eliboyev and Farhod Usmonov, joined the session online as they were in Kashkadarya, while VAR referee Asker Najafaliyev attended in person. The discussion focused on three disputed moments from the final match between “Pakhtakor” and “Bukhara” held at the “Bobur Arena.”

The first reviewed incident was a controversial penalty situation in favor of “Pakhtakor” near the end of the first half.

“When Flamarion fell, the ‘Pakhtakor’ player extended his leg toward the ‘Bukhara’ defender, who played the ball. Therefore, the decision not to award a penalty was correct,” Saidqosimov explained.

According to him, although there was contact between the players, the “Bukhara” defender touched the ball first, so the penalty was not given. “If he hadn’t touched the ball, it could have been a penalty. But the referee determined that the ‘Pakhtakor’ player’s main intention was to draw a foul,” he added.

The next incident occurred in the 75th minute, when “Pakhtakor” player Resan Bashar made a rough tackle on an opponent. After a VAR review, referee Qosimov decided to stick to his original decision and showed only a yellow card.

“Why did I give a yellow instead of red? The contact was on the ankle. The ‘Pakhtakor’ player missed the ball and stepped on the opponent’s ankle with his studs. However, it was deemed reckless rather than violent conduct, so I gave a yellow card,” Qosimov said.

However, VAR referee Asker Najafaliyev disagreed with the decision.

“In my opinion, Resan’s challenge deserved a red card. The head referee and I had different views on that,” he commented.

According to Saidqosimov, seven expert referees at the center voted on the controversial episodes, and they also concluded that Qosimov should have shown a red card in that instance. Nonetheless, the head referee did not change his decision.

Qosimov also addressed questions about whether refereeing a match in Termiz two days before the final affected his performance.

“I had known in advance that I was appointed for the final. The Termiz match had no impact. I was well prepared and had studied both teams,” he said.

The third controversial situation involved “Bukhara’s” disallowed goal.

“In that moment, player No. 93, Marko Kolakovic, was in an offside position and challenged ‘Pakhtakor’s’ No. 55, Muhammadrasul Abdumajidov, for the ball. According to the rules, that constitutes offside,” explained VAR referee Najafaliyev.

Head referee Qosimov gave his reasoning as well:

“Kolakovic interfered with an opponent while in an offside position, so the goal was ruled out. In the next moment, Toma Tabatadze was also offside and challenged for the ball, obstructing ‘Pakhtakor’ defenders. Therefore, the goal was correctly disallowed.”

Expert referees confirmed that “Bukhara’s” goal was rightfully annulled.

According to Saidqosimov, head referee Naim Qosimov received a rating of 7.9 from experts for not issuing a red card in the key incident. As a result, 25 percent of his match fee will be deducted as a penalty.

It is worth noting that in this match, Tashkent’s “Pakhtakor” claimed their 14th Uzbekistan Cup title after Hojimat Erkinov’s lone goal secured victory.