Emotional Burst on the Field: Shakhtar’s Bondar Openly Comments on Conflict with Yarmolenko
The high tension and intense emotions unfolded during the 11th round of the Ukrainian Premier League, when Donetsk’s Shakhtar central defender Valeriy Bondar found himself at the center of a heated exchange with Dynamo Kyiv star Andriy Yarmolenko.
In his commentary, Bondar emphasized that he holds deep respect for Yarmolenko both as a person and as a footballer, noting that all emotional moments on the field should stay there and not spill over into personal conflicts.
He mentioned that after the match, they shook hands, reaffirming mutual sportsmanship.
“I respect Andriy Mykolayovych very much — as a person and as a player.
What happens on the field stays on the field; I don’t see the need to make it bigger,” Bondar said during an interview on the YouTube channel ‘Ihor Tsyhanyk.’ However, the incident did not end there: Bondar aggressively contested a ball near Yarmolenko, which led the 36-year-old Dynamo captain to grab Bondar by the throat, sparking widespread discussion.
Despite the conflict, Shakhtar secured a significant 3-1 victory over Dynamo in Lviv, strengthening their lead in the Ukrainian Premier League standings by four points ahead of Kyiv’s team.
Earlier, fans and analysts voiced dissatisfaction with the refereeing during these matches, adding tension to the ongoing rivalry.
Additionally, former goalkeeper and well-known football commentator Shovkovskiy expressed his discontent with officiating, further fueling the controversy surrounding this encounter.
This incident is a vivid example of Ukraine’s modern football scene, which increasingly attracts attention due to its emotional and passionate nature.