Information that referee Aleksey Eskov did not pass a polygraph test and could be suspended for life appeared in the Russian media on August 28. According to them, an additional investigation will soon be conducted on the referee. “I have only the information that the RFU reported on the website - that I was temporarily suspended. I haven't received any communication yet. I can’t comment on anything, since I don’t know what I’m talking about. Didn't read anything. I isolated myself from the news. We will see how this situation would develop”, said Eskov. The head of the RFU Referees Committee, Ashot Khachaturyants, promised to give his comments after the meeting with Eskov that will take place next week. The referee from Moscow had to pass a polygraph test after the first round RPL match between Spartak and Sochi. In that match, Eskov helped Kazartsev as VAR. As a result, two controversial penalties were awarded to Sochi and the game ended in a draw (2-2). After the final whistle, the owner of Spartak, Leonid Fedun, dissatisfied with the work of the referees, threatened to withdraw his team from the tournament.
“The Referees Committee has completed its investigation into the referees of the match Spartak - Sochi, Vasily Kazartsev and Alexey Eskov. The referees have successfully passed the polygraph test following this game. I want to thank them for their cooperation. Despite this, the RFU decided to suspend Kazartsev from refereeing for an indefinite period of time", Alayev was quoted by Sport-Express. After a detailed analysis of all the controversial situation, it was decided that the second penalty against Maksimenko was awarded by Kazartsev by mistake. In the 88th minute in the penalty area of Spartak there was a clash between the Spartak defender Zhigot and the Sochi midfielder Nemchenko. The awarded a penalty kick, but did not watch the video replay, trusting the opinion of VAR Eskov. He, in turn, argued that in such situations the VAR has no right to contradict the referee. The refereeing expert and the committee came to the conclusion that there was a "normal playing contact" between the players. “The Committee unanimously decided that there was no foul. At the moment of hitting the goal, Zhigot did not engage in a challenge, but blocked the ball with his left foot. Then there is a so-called “playing collision”, which could not be avoided by both players”, stated ESC expert Nikolai Levnikov. Eskov's actions were also recognized as incorrect, since the VAR was supposed to intervene in the decision of Kazartsev, who made a "clear and obvious error". "The ESC, under the President of the RFU, recommends the VAR to be more careful in assessing the key moments of the match, since the accuracy of the decision is more important than the speed of the decision", the committee said in a statement. A number of questions were also raised by the situation that occurred in the 14th minute, when the Spartak defender Maslov hit striker Zaika on the leg. Kazartsev awarded a penalty kick in favour of Sochi, also relying on Eskov. However, in this case, his decision was recognized as correct. “The referee had reasons to award the penalty kick. Despite the fact that the Spartak player first touched the ball, before that he knocked his opponent's leg with his knee. Therefore, the committee supported the referee's decision. In such cases, when the error is not clear and obvious, according to the protocol, VAR does not interfere with the actions of the refereeing team", explained Levnikov.
Eskov, 41, is a fairly experienced referee. During his long career, he refereed 158 RPL matches. Alexey's debut in the Premier League took place back in October 2009. Also, Eskov refereed games in the European cups and matches of national teams. For example, last season he was assigned two games in the Europa League group stage. At the beginning of 2018, the Russian was invited to referee the Saudi Arabia championship match between Al-Feiha and Faisali. At the same time, the scandal that Eskov got into after the match Spartak - Sochi is not the first for him. In 2017, he refereed Zenit's debut game at a new stadium in St. Petersburg, where the home team defeated Ural (2-0). However, the guests were forced to finish the match with eight players, as the referee sent off three players from Ural at once: Eric Bikfalvi, Roman Pavlyuchenko and Roman Yemelyanov. After the game, the Ural players and coaches criticized the referee. “I understand that they were opening a new arena and Zenit should have won, but we have to play fair football. It is difficult to say what influenced the referee, why he behaved this way. Apparently, something really serious has happened”, Pavlyuchenko was quoted by TASS.
The Russian football community perceived the possible failure of Eskov on a polygraph test ambiguously. For example, the former head coach of the Russian national team and, at the moment, deputy of the State Duma Valeri Gazaev, said that referees should not be tested with a lie detector. “In this case, we show them distrust. They can make mistakes in the same way as football players. There is an RPL. There is RFU. There are expert and judicial committees. Each body must issue its own verdict. But when there are so many people working on a match, including VAR, decisions must be error-free and their actions must be consistent. But if you doubt the referee, you shouldn't even let him do to work. Again, referees don't need a polygraph. If we selected 20 people to referee RPL matches, it means that we believe them, it means that they are crystal honest", Gazaev said in an interview with RT. On the other hand, the best scorer in the history of Zenith, Alexander Kerzhakov, expressed the hope that what happened could be a lesson for other referees. “There is no smoke without fire, but I'm surprised. Apparently, something really serious has happened. If a referee violates the fair-play rules, if he is dishonest, then probably some sanctions should be applied. After all, dishonest football players and coaches are also removed. If there is evidence of Eskov's guilt, disqualification is one of the punishments that he must incur”, the ex-striker of the Russian national team noted. Finally, Andrei Budogosky, the former head of the RFU refereeing and inspection department, praised Eskov as an exceptionally decent and honest person. “I, unfortunately, do not know all the nuances and circumstances of the case. If this is true, then I am sincerely sorry that this happened. I know Eskov very well for many years, even from the time when he studied at our center, and I know him as an exceptionally decent, honest and professional person and teacher. Especially in matters of morality and ethics. I'd like to believe that a technical error was made in the investigation. Anything can be. Therefore, I am very sorry", said Budogosky.
