Ukrainian footballer gets yellow card for speaking Russian --Kiev has sought to restrict the use of the language in public since the 2014 [CIA-backed] Euromaidan coup | 20 Aug 2025 | A Ukrainian football player was shown a yellow card for refusing to stop speaking Russian on the pitch. The incident occurred Sunday during a Ukrainian Women's Top League game between Kolos from the Kiev region and SeaSters from the Black Sea port city of Odessa. Referee Anastasia Romanyuk paused the game around the 43rd minute to show a yellow card to SeaSters midfielder Irina Maiborodina. The decision sparked a brief argument between Romanyuk and SeaSters coach Denis Kolchin.