DONETSK, UKRAINE – When Ukraine played England in Dnipropetrovsk in October, the intimidating atmosphere was an important factor in their 1-0 victory. But, in the 1-0 loss to Greece in Donetsk on Nov. 18, the half-empty stands generated little of the noise and support normally forthcoming from the team’s “12th man.” The loss ended Ukraine’s hopes of playing in the World Cup finals.
Why was the crowd so sparse for the decisive game in the soccer-mad city?
The run-up to the game was dominated by a spat between the two biggest names in Ukrainian soccer – Hryhoriy Surkis and Rinat Akhmetov (neither of them players, of course).
The two oligarchs and soccer lovers had a very public debate about ticket prices, followed intently by tabloids and football fans in Donetsk.
In an open letter, Akhmetov, the president of Shakhtar Donetsk soccer club, accused the Football Federation of Ukraine, headed by Surkis, of greed for charging from Hr 200 to Hr 8,000 for tickets to the match featuring the national team.
Akhmetov accused Surkis of trying to milk the local population and the huge Donbas Arena stadium (which Akhmetov financed). Surkis’ aim, Akhmetov said, was to try and get ticket receipts 15 times higher than the game against England in Dnipropetrovsk. Even in the best of times, Hr 200 (around $25) isn’t small change for your average Donetsk burgher. But given the economic crisis that has hit particularly hard in the east, which is dominated by heavy industry, it’s a small fortune.
Akhmetov, known for his local philanthropy and for bankrolling Shakhtar Donetsk’s recent successes, offered to buy up all 50,000 tickets for $1.5 million, and then sell them at prices from Hr 20 to Hr 1,200. A grandiose gesture from a man revered in these parts for getting things done (unlike, the locals say, politicians).
But Surkis refused, claiming that Akhmetov had launched a “black PR” campaign against him. Surkis may be advised to choose his words carefully. Only a few weeks ago, Akhmetov pointedly reminded referees that he used to be a professional boxer.
The swine flu panic also frightened off a number of Greek fans, 1,000 of whom bought tickets but didn’t make the trip because of fears about the virus given the hysteria surrounding the epidemic in Ukraine. Another needless blow to the country’s image. But at least they had already paid for their tickets.
The match itself was something of a damp squib. After the Greeks took the lead in the first half, Ukraine spent the second period camped in opposition territory. But they were mostly restricted to pot shots from long range and rarely looked like breaking through.
The loudest jeers of the evening were bestowed neither upon the team, nor President Victor Yushchenko, who was in attendance. Instead, they rang out when the miserly attendance was announced.
After the match, coach Oleksiy Mykhailychenko complained that the ticket prices and the half-empty stadium didn’t help team Ukraine. “It’s ridiculous that the national team became a bargaining chip before the game,” Mykhailychenko said. “I don’t want to make any excuses, but to provoke arguments before the game, with open letters and so on, certainly didn’t help the team. You could say that certain personal relationships stood in the team’s way. It’s the first game where the stands weren’t full, and we had the impression we weren’t playing in Ukraine, but at a neutral venue.”
Kyiv Post staff writer James Marson can be reached at marson@kyivpost.com
