Passers-by in front of a sign representing players of the Ukrainian soccer team, in Kiev, June 7, 2021. – SERGEI SUPINSKY / AFP
- The Russian Football Federation denounced the Ukrainian national team’s new jersey to UEFA, featuring annexed Crimea and patriotic slogans.
- At the same time, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday welcomed the new jersey of the Ukrainian national team,
She sees it as a strong political symbol. The Russian football federation (RFS) announced this Tuesday evening that it had sent a letter to the
Uefa to denounce the new jersey of the Ukrainian selection for Euro football, which features annexed Crimea and patriotic slogans.
In this letter, “we draw attention to the use of political motives on the jersey of the Ukrainian national team which goes against the basic principles of the regulations of theUefa on the equipment ”, indicated the press service of the RFS, quoted by the Russian press agencies, with three days of the beginning of the Euro. “Football is a sport that must always remain outside of politics,” he recalled.
“By approving such a uniform, theUefa sets a precedent, because at a next big tournament, we could see other countries trying to use their equipment for political ends, estimates the press service of the RFS. Unveiled on Sunday, the Ukrainian national team’s jerseys feature the map of Ukraine, Crimea included, which Moscow annexed in 2014, as well as eastern territories, controlled by pro-Russian separatists. This map corresponds to the recognized borders of the country.
Formulas from a patriotic song
Also included are the slogans “Glory to Ukraine!” Glory to the Heroes! », Formulas taken from a patriotic song and became a rallying cry during the popular uprising of Maidan in 2014, which ousted a president supported by the Kremlin Viktor Yanukovych.
The presence of these slogans on the jersey drew criticism from Moscow, which associated these slogans with nationalist groups in World War II who fought the Soviets. Ukraine and Russia both qualify for the Euro. The first will be in group C and the second in group B.
The Ukrainian president poses with the jersey …
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday welcomed the new jersey of the Ukrainian national team, which features “important symbols” such as annexed Crimea and patriotic slogans, in reaction to strong criticism from Moscow.
“The new jersey of the Ukrainian football team is indeed like no other. He can shock. It features several important symbols that unite Ukrainians, ”Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on Instagram, also posting a photo where he poses with this jersey.