Sutjeska appeals against trial: We are witnessing a series of evident judicial irregularities and irregularities

There are four rounds left in the MeridianBet First Montenegrin Football League, and the leader Sutjeska is two points ahead of Mornar. Just over a month ago, the team from Nikšić had a seven-point advantage, then lost to Baran (2:1), drew with Jezera (1:1), and the lead at the top has evaporated.

In the next round, on Saturday (20), Milorad Peković's team will be away to Arsenal and have no right to fail. And just before that duel (the only one on Saturday, the other matches are on Sunday), but also before the end of the season, when they will play crucial matches, the Sutjeska Board of Directors issued a press release.

In a statement, the Board of Directors points out that they have witnessed a series of evident judicial irregularities and irregularities that have become the rule, not the exception, in recent rounds.

They add that they will not allow Sutjeska to become a victim of amateurism or bad intentions of those who should be dispensing justice.

We transmit Sutjeska's announcement in its entirety:

"Regarding the frequent incidents on the fields that directly undermine the integrity of the competition and cause irreparable damage to our club, FK Sutjeska addresses the football public, the competent authorities and its loyal fans.

Unfortunately, we are witnessing a series of evident refereeing irregularities and irregularities that have become the rule, not the exception, in the last few rounds. Instead of the players on the field deciding the outcome of matches, we are witnessing decisions that directly shape the table and degrade the efforts of our players, coaching staff and management.

We draw attention to a clear pattern of decisions that are constantly being reversed to the detriment of our club. There is a serious inconsistency in the protection of the game and players, with situations that are “on the borderline” being interpreted as a rule to our detriment. While obvious fouls against our players in the opening of the attack are not sanctioned, thus directly enabling dangerous attacks for the opponents, on the other hand we notice a surprising ease in awarding fouls against us. One gets the impression that some officials do not have an adequate overview of the game. Decisions at key moments are often made from an inexplicably long distance, which results in assessments that are based more on assumptions than on a clear insight into the situation. The fact that even clear, obvious things, which happen directly in front of the referee with the flag, are judged as if they did not happen, is additionally worrying.

We are also witnessing the continuous disruption of the dynamics of the game through selective time-outs. In our matches, evident obstruction and several-minute interruptions are tolerated. We come to absurd situations where, for a total of 16 minutes of lying on the field, the match is extended by a total of only 12 minutes, and substitutions seem to be deducted from the total duration of the interruption, although at least 30 seconds should be added. In contrast, in matches where our team has a score advantage and where there are absolutely no longer delays, matches are inexplicably and unreasonably extended. Without wishing to diminish other people's successes, we cannot remain blind to the application of different yardsticks throughout the league. While in our matches, strictness is applied to the extreme, in some other fields we witness situations where the harshest penalties are awarded with striking ease, for duels that do not even meet basic football criteria.

Football is played for the audience and sports competition, not for personal interests or demonstrations of power off the field. FK Sutjeska, as one of the biggest brands of Montenegrin sports, will not allow itself to become a victim of amateurism or bad intentions of those who should be dispensing justice. Our history, which is more than a century long, obliges us to fight injustice institutionally, but also uncompromisingly. Our key positions are to preserve the dignity and protect the integrity of our club, with a clear call for accountability and sanctioning of all irregularities.

That is why we demand from the FSCG and the Referee Commission an urgent analysis of the controversial moments and adequate sanctions for referees whose (in)actions directly affect the results.

"FK Sutjeska will, regardless of all obstacles, continue to fight on the field the way it knows best - with sportsmanship and courage. However, we will not quietly watch as decades of work and the club's reputation collapse through incomprehensible decisions that insult the intelligence of every football fan in Nikšić and Montenegro," Sutjeska announced.