Spartak Moscow slams referee bias after contentious VAR calls in Dinamo draw
A heated dispute over refereeing decisions erupted after Spartak Moscow’s 1–1 draw with Dinamo in the Russian Premier League. Former Spartak president Andrei Chervichenko publicly criticized referee Inal Tanashev, questioning the fairness of key calls during the match.
The game, held on October 16, 2022, saw two Spartak goals disallowed for offside, sparking frustration among the club’s leadership.
Chervichenko directed his criticism at Tanashev’s handling of VAR reviews. He claimed the lines used to determine offside positions are often drawn after the incident, leaving room for potential bias. According to him, this method could manipulate how player positions are judged.
Both of Spartak’s disallowed goals were ruled out by Tanashev, deepening suspicions about the accuracy of the decisions. Chervichenko’s remarks highlighted broader concerns over officiating standards in the league.
The match ended in a draw, but the controversy overshadowed the result. Spartak’s leadership made it clear they believed the outcome was unfairly influenced by refereeing errors.
The dispute has put renewed focus on VAR procedures in the Russian Premier League. Chervichenko’s comments suggest a lack of trust in how offside decisions are made. The incident may lead to further scrutiny of refereeing protocols in future matches.
