On Tuesday, July 25, as part of the preparation for the start of the 2023/2024 season in the UPL and PFL competitions, a training seminar for delegates and assistant delegates of the UAFA took place.

The event, held under the chairmanship of the joint examination commission of delegates and assistant delegates of the UAFA led by Igor Gatullin, was attended by First Vice President of the UAFA Vadym Kostyuchenko, Chairman of the UAFA Committee on Stadiums and Safety of Matches Gennadiy Prokopovich, Director of the UPL Department for Stadiums and Safety of Matches Sergey Bukalenkov, Deputy Head of the Arbitration Support and Training Division of the UAFA and FIFA Instructor Viktor Dordo, as well as delegates and assistant delegates of the UAFA who were certified for the 2023/2024 football campaign using video conferencing.

Photo by Pavel Kubanov

"I would like to thank everyone who participated, especially the leadership of our state and the Armed Forces of Ukraine for successfully completing the football season-2022/2023 under difficult wartime conditions in Ukraine. Russia launches a large number of rockets, shells, and drones into our country almost every day, making it impossible even to partially conduct matches with spectators on the stands. The UAFA received an official letter from the Ministry of Sports stating that unfortunately, games for the 2023/2024 season must be played without fans," — Vadym Kostyuchenko informed those present at the beginning of the seminar.

Photo by Pavel Kubanov

In his address to the participants, First Vice President of the UAFA emphasized that in the new season it is important to demonstrate coordinated teamwork of all match organization subjects, ensuring law and order and safety on the stadium: "The work of a delegate and an assistant delegate should start well before the actual game. Official representatives must ensure that all permits from the Security Service are in place for the game and that necessary documents regarding the readiness of the stadium are available."

Photo by Pavel Kubanov

Vadym Kostyuchenko also noted the expansion of the list of stadiums that will be able to host matches in the new season for both UPL and international competitions: "The completion and opening of a new modern 'Left Bank Arena' in Kyiv region, which can accommodate Premier League team games as well as international matches, meeting all requirements set by the UAFA and UEFA. Today, the UAFA Executive Committee approved the competition regulations and list of stadiums where UPL clubs will play, including reconstructed arenas in Cherkasy and Zhytomyr. This is a demonstration to the world that Ukraine can still move forward and develop football infrastructure even into its second year of full-scale war."

"Upon receiving an assignment for a match, your job involves analyzing the situation and modeling various scenarios in case of air alerts or emergencies, coordinating all actions with the action plan and evacuation plan developed for each stadium," — Igor Gatullin, head of the joint examination commission of delegates and assistant delegates of the UAFA, highlighted.

Photo by Pavel Kubanov

Gennadiy Prokopovich drew the attention of seminar participants to the fact that during air alerts, no one should remain on the territory of a sports facility, and all match participants must be in a safe place: "Remember that war is ongoing, and the delegate is responsible for everything happening on the sports facility premises, including evacuation. Shelters are one of the most important things because today there is no safe place in Ukraine where Russian rockets could not reach. Therefore, it's crucial to thoroughly check them to ensure they have space for both teams and match officials, drinking water, a refrigerator, power supply equipment, medical supplies, etc."

Photo by Pavel Kubanov

Sergey Bukalenkov in turn drew the attention of delegates and assistant delegates to regular communication with clubs and verification of Security Service permits for matches (especially this applies to competition participants who received such a permit not for each individual match but for all games of the upcoming season).

Viktor Dordo also advised those present about changes in the Laws of the Game related to the work of delegates and assistant delegates for the upcoming football campaign, adding that an electronic report form for referees will be approved soon for matches in UPL and PFL competitions.