Football Club Pyunik expresses its deepest indignation on the refereeing staff of FC Lori vs Pyunik match of the 34th day of the Armenian Premier League, and, in particular, on chief referee Artak Simonyan’s work.

During the match that was of a key significance in the championship struggle the referees made gross mistakes that are incompatible with the principles of professionalism and impartiality. There is no need to remind of these mistakes as they raised a wave of frustration and fair anger in the whole football community.

The referees affected the outcome of the match with their mistakes and thus had their crucial contribution to the alignment of forces in the championship race. It is noteworthy that on May 18, a day later after the appointment of the chief referee of the mentioned match by the FFA FC Pyunik President Arthur Soghomonyan applied to FFA First Vice-President Armen Melikbekyan presenting reasonable doubts of the given referee’s professionalism and impartiality and asking to substitute him. The copy of the document is attached below.

Unfortunately, the FFA didn’t accept the request. The need for decisive and profound changes in the referee system has long matured and is evident to everyone. Unfortunately, so far no concrete and effective steps have been taken in that direction and the consequences of which we feel today. Such things are intolerable and must be rooted out of Armenian football. Everyone suffers from it; clubs whose year of hard work is eliminated by referees’ incredible mistakes, young footballers who see the whole ugliness of football injustice and feel a great disappointment, the reputation of Armenian football inside the country and on international arena, people who invest in Armenian football and the most important, the fans.

Football Club Pyunik urges the football authorities to take drastic measures to refresh the refereeing staff, dismiss discredited referees working by old rules for providing honest, professional refereeing and equal competitive conditions for all the clubs. The ongoing championship was distinguished for its spectacular, tense and interesting struggle. It’s too pity that the outcome of such a championship can be decided not on the pitch through an honest struggle but as a result of such refereeing. FC Pyunik expresses its deepest gratitude to its fans, football community representatives for their unity and support in this issue. We urge you not to be disappointed even if it seems too hard. We are resolute, united and are going to struggle for the desired goal till the end.

To First Vice-President of FFA, Acting Secretary General Armen Melikbekyan Dear Mr. Melikbekyan, On May 17, it became known that the service of the Lori FC vs Pyunik match of the 34th day of the Armenian Premier League has been entrusted to Artak Simonyan as a chief referee. The decision is surprising and unclear for Football Club Pyunik as the job of the referee appointed for one of the most decisive matches of the championship raises serious doubts of non-professional refereeing and impartiality during this championship (in particular, in Ararat-Armenia vs Pyunik match of the 30th day of the championship, as well as in other matches with participation of FC Ararat-Armenia). The Armenian Premier League of this year was unprecedented with its interest, tension and unpredictability and inspires hopes for the revival of Armenian football. We hope that the final period of the championship will pass in the same way and spirit. There is no need to stress again how important is the role of referees’ professionalism and impartiality for achievement of the above-mentioned and the increase of the reputation of the Armenian championship. It is especially important in the final round of the championship where the champion will be determined. We respect referees’ work and don’t want to give unambiguous assessment to their job. At the same time we ask to display maximum neutrality and responsibility when choosing referees and to exclude in the most important matches the participation of the referee whose professionalism and impartiality raise doubts. The champion must be determined on the pitch and not out of its boundaries. Based on the above we ask you to change the chief referee of LoriFC vs Pyunik match, Artak Simonyan. Sincerely, Arthur Soghomonyan, President of FC Pyunik.