The conflict between Ukraine and Russia have been raging on for a few days now with all the world watching keenly what happens. The footballing community has also been heavily vested in this with players and clubs calling for peace. With the Western powers and NATO imposing sanctions on Russia, UEFA, FIFA and several clubs have also taken action vis-a-vis their sponsorship deals. Meanwhile, it remains to be seen what happens in the future as the situation is still evolving.
Ukrainian footballers have been at the forefront of protesting and standing solidarity with the nation.
Emotional scenes at Goodison Park as Everton and Manchester City unite to show their support to Ukraine 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/1SBDZEwr18
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 26, 2022
Heartbreaking to see Oleksandr Zinchenko in tears before kick-off as both teams show their support for Ukraine 💔 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/bZYNyziMSh
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) February 26, 2022
Amazing moment at Goodison Park between Zinchenko and Mykolenko 🇺🇦 😢 ❤️ pic.twitter.com/8cdozCocnw
— Arlo White 💙 (@arlowhite) February 26, 2022
Benfica’s Roman Yaremchuk on his celebration:
“I'm Ukrainian and I'm proud of it. Being thousands of miles from my home country, I want to support everyone who is currently struggling in my home country. It's time to unite.” 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/xf17v9FxTv
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) February 24, 2022
Manchester United came to the field with a placard with the word “Peace” written in multiple languages before their game against Watford. Players from both teams stood in solidarity to give the message of peace before the kickoff.
A message from Ralf and the players ❤️ #MUFC pic.twitter.com/mu0ul9GDeE
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 26, 2022
I played for the women having to give birth in bomb shelters, for the kids who spend their nights fully dressed, so they can be ready to leave at any moment. I played for my people who are being woken up to missiles flying over their heads not knowing what the next hour may bring pic.twitter.com/1T9gY8P7Xh
— Nicole Kozlova (@KozlovaNicole) February 26, 2022
Dynamo Kyiv captain Sergey Sydorchuk asked for efforts to “preserve our independence and sovereignty of the country.”
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Oleksandr Zinchenko was part of a vigil held in Manchester's city centre, protesting against the Russian invasion of Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/IOV3sSe0Qv
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) February 25, 2022
Júnior Moraes: "The situation is desperate. The borders are closed, the banks too, there is no fuel, there will be a shortage of food, there is no money. We are meeting while we wait for a plan to leave Ukraine." 🇺🇦 https://t.co/0aqbvA5rxD
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) February 24, 2022
Powerful: New Polish international Matty Cash scores for Aston Villa, celebrates with message of support for Polish teammate Tomasz Kedziora who plays for Dynamo Kyiv and has been stuck there with his family. Footballers all over the world using platform for power of Good 🇺🇦🇵🇱 pic.twitter.com/2r47dU9JaR
— roger bennett (@rogbennett) February 26, 2022
— Julian Nagelsmann (@J__Nagelsmann) February 26, 2022
Robert Lewandowski wears an armband in support of Ukraine 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/tRayGVaPku
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) February 26, 2022
Former Ukraine national team manager and all-time great Andriy Shevchenko called on th Russian government “to stop their aggression and violation of international law”, stating that “We only want peace. War is not the answer.”
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Russian striker Fyodor Smolev became the first player from his country to publicly oppose his country’s actions.
Fyodor #Smolov became the first Russian international footballer to express his opposition to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.#Putin #UkraineConflict #RussiaUkraineCrisis pic.twitter.com/mEggm7rTWy
— DW Sports (@dw_sports) February 24, 2022
UEFA followed quickly, with a major piece of news. The final of this year’s Champions League, originally given to St. Petersburg Stadium, has been moved to the Stade de France in Paris.
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Clubs have not stayed silent either with several cutting off or pausing their ties with Russian sponsors.
Official. Schalke 04 statement confirms they will immediately remove the logo of Russian state-owned energy giant Gazprom from its jerseys. Main sponsor will be removed with immediate effect. 🔵 #Schalke pic.twitter.com/E78mF3uHGT
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) February 24, 2022
Even BILD has followed the German club’s lead.
In some interesting news from Germany, BILD are refusing to show Schalke's Russian shirt sponsor Gazprom in their paper or on their website, instead replacing the logo with a "Freedom for Ukraine" message pic.twitter.com/i8LWBNrEuY
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) February 23, 2022
Napoli and Barcelona players before tonight's match 🤝
📸 @sscnapoli pic.twitter.com/ertRxvsYsp
— Footy Accumulators (@FootyAccums) February 24, 2022
We'll withstand it! 🇺🇦#Ukraine pic.twitter.com/ivrDV4byBq
— FC SHAKHTAR ENGLISH (@FCShakhtar_eng) February 24, 2022
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Manchester United have ended their sponsorship deal with Russia's national airline Aeroflot.
In a statement, United said they had "withdrawn the sponsorship rights" of Aeroflot, who have been the club's official carrier since 2013. pic.twitter.com/115kgDDF0d
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) February 25, 2022
Dynamo Kyiv manager Mircea Lucescu: "All sporting activity in Ukraine was suspended for 30 days. I will not leave Kyiv to return to Romania, I'm not a coward. I hope these big people with no brains will stop this war. I never thought this was possible" pic.twitter.com/XSDbrwh9JN
— Emanuel Roşu (@Emishor) February 24, 2022
"In such situations, football is definitely not a priority."
FIFA president Gianni Infantino says they have a duty to monitor the consequences of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on football. pic.twitter.com/nWZLYLSVB9
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) February 24, 2022
#UPDATE Poland will not play their 2022 World Cup play-off with Russia in Moscow on March 24 due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine the president of the Polish football federation said on Saturday
📸 Poland last played Russia in June 2021 pic.twitter.com/xMEt5EsNHb
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) February 26, 2022
One of the major talking points in UK has been around Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich and his links to Vladimir Putin over the years. The British Parliament has already barred him from living in the country, while there have also been murmurs of forcing him to relinquish control of the Blues. Abramovich as already relinquished the “stewardship” of the club.
Statement from Club Owner Roman Abramovich.
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) February 26, 2022
“Surely Mr Abramovich should no longer be able to own a football club in this country.”
Labour’s Chris Bryant calls on the government to seize assets of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich over his reported links to Vladimir Putin. pic.twitter.com/UhmlQ0hvl5
— Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) February 24, 2022
Yesterday, his daughter posted the following on her personal Instagram account.
This is Roman Abramovich’s daughter. More power to her. Hope the other oligarch offspring follow her lead (also Chelsea fans) pic.twitter.com/96ronTeAkC
— Carole Cadwalladr (@carolecadwalla) February 26, 2022