As the Russian army accelerates its offensive to seize the capital of Ukraine, Kiev, several victims were counted on Tuesday. Among them, two young footballers aged 21 and 25, as indicated by the international players’ union FIFPro, on its twitter account.
“Our hearts go out to the families and friends of young Ukrainian footballers Vitalii Sapylo and Dmytro Martynenko, the first disappearances for football in this war,” writes the union.
Sapylo was a tank commander in the Ukrainian army. He died at the front. The young footballer played in the Karpaty Lviv club, in the 3rd Division. Martynenko, who played regionally at FC Gostomel, was reportedly killed when a Russian bomb fell on his apartment, which he shared with his mother.
Andrei Shevchenko, for his part, did not remain silent. The former Dynamo Kiev striker, coach of the Ukraine national team a few months ago, reacted on social networks. “Ukraine is my homeland! I have always been proud of my people and my country! We have been through many difficult times and over the past 30 years we have grown as a nation! A nation of sincere, hard-working, freedom-loving citizens! This is our most important asset! »
Russia has been excluded from all football competitions, including the next World Cup scheduled for the end of the year in Qatar. The various selections like the Russian clubs are deprived “until further notice” of any international competition, a joint decision of Fifa and UEFA. The latter has also confirmed the termination of its sponsorship contract with the gas giant Gazprom, estimated at 40 million euros annually.
