The scandal surrounding the Kyiv Dynamo Club is damaging Ukrainian soccer’s international image. Any trouble in this sensitive line of business, regardless of domestic political factors, objectively plays into the hands of the club’s rivals. Ihor Surkis, the president of the Kyiv Dynamo Soccer Club, is certain that no changes will be made to the club’s ownership and that Kyiv’s Pechersk District Court ruling about the arrest of 98.71% of shares in the club will not have any crucial consequences. When asked by the BBC Ukrainian Service whether the club owners are sure that no such changes will be made, Surkis replied: “I’m positive and I can guarantee it,” adding that the court did not make any decision to arrest the shares: “There was no such court ruling. Instead, a decision was made to submit all Kyiv Dynamo Club share issuance documents to the court. As for the arrest, this wasn’t mentioned anywhere.” Surkis called what is happening “sheer speculation.” In response to Vice Premier Mykola Tomenko’s demand for additional payments to secure the Dynamo Club’s actual value, Surkis noted that the club had never been privatized: “A very bad game is being played with the Ukrainian Dynamo team, because Ukrainian soccer in general will suffer. If FIFA or UEFA discovers that politics are involved in our soccer, we could find ourselves expelled from soccer and banished from the international arena for a very long time.”
The lawyer for the Kyiv Dynamo Club, Yuriy Ramazanov questioned the objectivity of the Pechersk District Court’s ruling. “I’m very disturbed by it; this ruling brings very unpleasant ideas to mind, among other things I’m forced to question the Pechersk Court’s unbiased attitude in this case,” he declared in an interview with 1+1 TV Channel’s News Service last Wednesday night, adding that the court had made a rash decision, without even summoning the Dynamo’s defense counsel, and that Pacific International Sport Clubs, Ltd. was known to have been defending Konstantin Grigorishin’s interests. Yuri Ramazanov explained that the court ruling forbids soccer club owners to dispose of their shares as they see fit “in the sense of alienation.” He stated, “I hope that the arrest of the shares is not the matter at issue, but that it simply has to do with the alienation of shares. From what I know, none of the stockholders has decided to do so in the nearest or foreseeable future.” Konstantin Grigorishin, a Russian national, declared in an interview that he would take away the [Ukrainian] soccer club from its current owners.
Ihor Surkis told 1 + 1 that on the eve of Dynamo’s decisive UEFA 1/16 Cup match in Spain, “pseudo-patriots” like Grigorishin are pushing this issue, which will undoubtedly affect the team’s performance.”
According to Interfax Ukraine, Kyiv’s Pechersk Court passed a ruling on the Dynamo Club shares last Wednesday, granting Pacific International Sport Clubs, Ltd.’s claim, and reported that the company would in due course claim stock-ownership exclusive rights. The news agency quoted the court ruling: “A total of 98.71 percent-worth of interest in the Kyiv Dynamo Soccer Club shall henceforth be impounded as a precautionary measure...” subject to appellate proceedings within a time limit of fifteen days.
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A few days ago the SDPU (U) press service issued a statement from party leader Viktor Medvedchuk concerning the scandal surrounding the Kyiv Dynamo Club:
“A series of declarations made by people in the top echelons of power and the subservient judiciary’s efforts leave no doubt about the fact that a campaign is underway, aimed at destroying the Kyiv Dynamo Club. This campaign appears especially cynical on the eve of the Dynamo team’s crucial UEFA Cup match. Acting this way means that there is no respect whatsoever for the feelings of the soccer players and millions of fans. I’m not going to get into how all this will affect the new administration’s image. Everyone chooses how to build his own image, after all. Some put resources as well as their hearts into the job of building a soccer club that is recognized and respected throughout the world; others prefer the kudos of a latter-day Herostratus intent on destroying this club and its glory. It is clear that the actions of one foreign businessman, with the support of certain representatives of the Ukrainian government, are aimed at the destruction of the club. Who is prepared to assume responsibility for all this? The new officials, who have not done anything to help develop Ukrainian sports, have set about decisively destroying the glory of Ukrainian soccer. The United Social Democrats will make every effort to prevent this from happening. Defending the Kyiv Dynamo Soccer Club is our duty, both as fans and Ukrainian citizens.”
