Ukrainian football club NK Veres Rivne have been fined for conducting interviews ‘not in the state language’
Ukrainian Premier League team NK Veres Rivne have been sanctioned by the national football authorities after players reportedly conducted interviews in Russian following a recent match.
Veres confirmed the fine on the official club website, explaining that the ‘violation’ had occurred after the meeting with Dynamo Kiev earlier in December.
“The decision is not subject to appeal,” the statement added, without revealing the size of the fine.
The language in question was not mentioned in the club’s press release but is widely reported as being Russian.
Officials at Veres promised that players would conduct interviews only in Ukrainian from now on, and said that anyone unable to do so would be given lessons.
“For those football players or other employees of the club who speak the state language at an insufficient level in their opinion, the club is ready to organize courses in Ukrainian,” Veres vowed.
“This decision does not apply to representatives of the club who are citizens of other states.”