Scandal at “Girona” - Tsyhankov and Vanat took part in a fight in the dressing room, the club bans footballers from speaking to the press

The scandal surrounding Viktor Tsyhankov is escalating after Girona's opening match in Segunda. Spanish media reported that Tsyhankov, as well as another Ukrainian, Vladyslav Vanat, refused to come on as substitutes and that a conflict occurred in the dressing room, UNN reports. 

Details 

On Sunday, August 16, Spanish club Girona, for whom four Ukrainians play — Viktor Tsyhankov, Vladyslav Vanat, Vladyslav Kravetsov and Oleksandr Pyshchur — faced Leganés in the opening round of the Spanish Segunda (the second-tier division, to which the Catalans were relegated at the end of the 2025/2026 La Liga season). The match ended in a 1:1 draw. 

After the match, COPE journalist Arnau Pou reported on X that Viktor Tsyhankov, who had been included in Girona's squad, refused to come on as a substitute.

"He was fine, he was called onto the pitch, but he did not want to get changed to go into the game. After the match, he remained in the stands. I don't recall a professional player ever behaving like that," Pou wrote, quoting Girona head coach Kike Álvarez. 

According to AS, immediately after the final whistle, a scuffle took place in the dressing room involving Tsyhankov and one of the team's medical staff members.

The tense situation was caused by a conflict between the player and the club. As early as June last year, Tsyhankov stated that he intended not to continue working with Girona. 

"The situation with the Ukrainian illustrates a significant rift between some players and the club. In addition to Tsyhankov, other players also refused to play: Vanat was on the bench but did not come onto the pitch; Donny van de Beek watched from the stands; ​​and Abde also refused to get changed into his kit," the publication writes.

The publication adds that Tsyhankov's situation is complicated: during preseason, he announced his intention to leave and never wear Girona's shirt again. 

Although Kike Álvarez tried to persuade him to stay, the forward thanked the coach for his support but refused, expressing his anger at the club: he was disappointed with some directors for violating clauses of his contract. 

His anger grew in recent weeks when Girona, without the player's permission, reached agreements with Trabzonspor and New York City, clubs that wanted to sign him.

The winger refused, further increasing his dissatisfaction. Tsyhankov wants to remain in La Liga or move to England, but Girona is demanding a very high transfer fee for a player whose contract expires in 2027. 

In a comment to Tribuna.com, Vladyslav Vanat said that he had been ready to come on as a substitute. 

"I was supposed to come on as a substitute, so I started putting on my kit and was supposed to be ready to enter the game within a few seconds. But at that moment, our centre-back was injured and had to be replaced. The coaching staff decided to bring on a more defensive player because there was only one substitution left. Today I spoke with the coach, and he assured me that this was not my fault and that what the press had written about me was not true. He also stated this today in front of the entire team and assured me that the club would inform the Spanish journalists about it. I repeat once again that, as a professional player, I was ready to go onto the pitch, but the situation developed differently and the coach had to change his decision," Vanat replied to Tribuna.com's request.

On the evening of August 17, Viktor Tsyhankov reacted on Instagram to the scandal that occurred during the previous day's match against Leganés. 

"One day I will tell my version," Tsyhankov wrote.

He also posted screenshots showing that the club currently does not allow the footballer to give any interviews.

"Hello everyone. We remind you that, in accordance with the club's internal procedures, any public communication, interview or interaction with the media must be agreed in advance and receive approval from the head of the club's press service," read the message posted by Tsyhankov. 

Another screenshot concerns the Ukrainian personally. 

"Hello, Viktor. We remind you that, in accordance with your contract (as with those of the rest of your teammates) regarding relations with the press, for any public communication, interview, etc., you must first obtain permission from the club's head of press services. A journalist contacted us, and we informed him that we are not currently giving interviews with players. You have already been told this (...), so you already know that you do not have permission from FC Girona. The obligation to obtain prior permission is not simply an internal recommendation: it is part of the players' contractual obligations, their duty of good faith, and their obligation to follow the club's instructions. Accordingly, giving an interview or making public statements without such permission will be considered a breach of contract. As we have already informed you, a breach of contract will force us to take disciplinary measures," the second message stated. 

The behavior of the players did not please Girona fans. 

"There are boundaries that a Girona player has no right to cross. What Viktor Tsyhankov did by refusing to take the field despite being included in the match squad is an unacceptable lack of respect for his teammates, the fans, and the club he represents. We understand that you want to leave, that you have offers, or that you know your future lies far from Girona. All of this is part of football. But what we will not tolerate is refusing to defend this shirt and fulfill your obligations while your contract remains in force. Whoever has the privilege of wearing this shirt is obliged to respect it until the last day. And you, Viktor, have proven to be an ungrateful and dishonorable person," the fans stated.

The fan community said that this message was addressed to Tsyhankov and to any other player who decides to follow his path.

"Anyone who does not want to defend this crest should pay up and leave. We do not want to see you here for another second. At the same time, we want to recognize the players who have expressed their position, act openly, and remain committed to the team. Some of them know that their future will probably also lie far from Girona, but despite this, they continue to train, compete, and fulfill their obligations. This is the minimum we demand, and it is only fair to acknowledge it. Respect and honor to those who defend this crest until the last day as it deserves to be defended," the fans added. 

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