The semi-final series in the Russian championship between Lokomotiv (Novosibirsk) and Zenit-Kazan entered a decisive phase, but instead of solely sporting arguments, refereeing became the focus of attention. After the dramatic fourth match, won by the "railroaders" with 3:2(25:21,22:25,25:23,21:25,15:13), an official reaction followed, leading to a change of referees for the last match of the series. BO sport and championat.com write about this.

Official assessment: "low quality" and gross errors

The Control and Qualification Commission of the All-Russian Board of Referees thoroughly reviewed the work of Nikolay Knizhnikov and Alexander Pavlov. The focus logically fell on the fifth set, where the most controversial situations were concentrated.
The conclusions are more than critical – a low quality of refereeing was noted, accompanied by gross methodical errors precisely at the decisive moment of the match. Both referees received "average" and "below average" ratings, with the conclusion explicitly stating that their decisions led to tension, numerous disputes, and a negative impact on the image of volleyball.
This assessment was not just a formality – it directly influenced the next appointment.

Referee change for Match #5

The Federation reacted by appointing a new refereeing team – Ryabtsov and Golovin – for the decisive fifth match in Kazan on April 16. The move is a clear signal of an attempt to avoid a repeat of the events from Novosibirsk and to reduce the tension surrounding the series.

The tie-break in which the referee "lost the plot"

The decisive fifth set in Novosibirsk became an example of how refereeing can come to the forefront at the most inopportune moment. At 5:3 for Zenit-Kazan, an ace was initially awarded to the guests, but after a prolonged review, the decision was changed to a disputed ball. Replays, however, rather suggest a touch on Kazachenkov's leg – a situation that left doubts about an error.
A little later, another issue followed – a net touch by Volvich was called, but television footage did not provide conclusive confirmation. Such hesitations further disrupted the match's rhythm.
The climax came during Dražen Luburić's serve. The ball landed on the boundary between the line and out, and the Kazan players also claimed a touch by Kurbanov. Initially, the point was awarded to Zenit, but after protests, the decision was revised to a disputed ball. The lack of a conclusive video replay only intensified the feeling of chaos.

Lokomotiv kept their cool

In this heated atmosphere, Lokomotiv demonstrated stronger nerves. On Simeon Nikolov's serve, the team achieved a crucial run for 9:6 in the tie-break, which proved decisive.
In terms of gameplay, the success of the Novosibirsk team is beyond doubt. They were more stable in key elements – blocking, defensive play with saved balls, and effectiveness with high balls. These details made the difference in the evenly matched game.

Tension remains for the final clash

The series has already transcended purely sporting dimensions. Dissatisfaction in the Zenit-Kazan camp, Plamen Konstantinov's reactions, and emotional outbursts on the court create an extremely tense backdrop before the decisive match.
Everything will be decided in Kazan, where, in addition to the quality of volleyball, refereeing will also be under serious scrutiny. After what happened in Novosibirsk, every call will be examined under a magnifying glass.

photo:sport.business-gazeta.ru