Wage Crisis at Kryvbas Nearly Forces UPL Match Cancellation

Financial Crisis Hits Football Club Kryvbas

According to Главком: Kryvbas, the football club from Kryvyi Rih, almost failed to appear for its 22nd round Ukrainian Premier League match against Cherkasy LNZ due to severe financial issues. Players had not received their salaries in 2026, leading a faction of the squad to plan a strike. In the lead-up to the match scheduled for April 5th, the team held two meetings, the first of which included the coaching staff led by Patrick van Leeuwen.

Team captain, Maksym Zaderaka, expressed deep concern over the situation, stating:

“When is the match? April 5th. And what happened on April 4th last year, when 21 people died, 9 of them children? Fans will come to throw soft toys onto the pitch in their memory. And you won't take the field? You can't do that; it's simply inhumane to cancel such a match.” - Maksym Zaderaka

The Kryvbas club responded to the crisis by paying off part of its debt, including wages for January 2026, with some players also receiving their February salaries. The club's financial troubles are linked to problems with its investor, the company 'Rudomain,' which is suffering due to attacks on Ukraine's infrastructure. This situation highlights the immense pressure on Ukrainian businesses and sports institutions during the ongoing war.

Other Matches and Awards

• In another match of the day, Oleksandria and Poltava played to a 3:3 draw.
• Kyiv's Dynamo received awards for the best player and coach of the February-March period.

Forward Matvii Ponomarenko was named best player, with Ihor Kostyuk recognized as the best coach.

The Kryvbas saga underscores the profound difficulties facing sports clubs in Ukraine amid financial instability caused by the war and its consequences. The partial payment of wages suggests an attempt by the club to defuse tensions and avoid further conflicts that could harm both the team and its supporters. Meanwhile, other matches and awards demonstrate that football remains a vital part of public life, persisting despite the immense challenges.