Footballers comment on the war
Shevchenko: Putin is a “murderer”
03/03/2022, 9:00 p.m
Andrei Shevchenko emotionally appeals to help his Ukrainian homeland. The ex-soccer star’s family is still in Kyiv. All that remains for Russia’s President Vladimir Putin is contempt. A Russian national player sees things differently despite the war of aggression.
The Ukrainian national football hero Andrei Shevchenko calls Russia’s President Vladimir Putin a “murderer” and fears for his family. “I tried to get my mother and other relatives to come to London, but they don’t want to leave Kyiv. That’s the spirit of Ukraine,” Shevchenko told the Italian newspaper La Repubblica.
Since the Russian attack, he has been concentrating day and night on how to help his country and his people. “I’m thinking about how I can raise funds, how I can make sure that the rest of the world is constantly informed about the tragedy in Ukraine,” said the 49-year-old, who won the 2004 Ballon D’Or as European Footballer of the Year won and most recently coached CFC Genoa.
In his video message before the Milan Cup derby, Shevchenko read an appeal for peace and support: “We need help, we need medicine. This is one of the most difficult moments in Ukrainian history, even if the people are united. Every minute can be delayed be deadly, time is of the essence.” Shevchenko began his career at Dynamo Kyiv and returned there for his last active seasons after stints at AC Milan and FC Chelsea.
“That can’t offend us”
Meanwhile, the Russian national soccer player Artjom Dsjuba criticized the treatment of Russian athletes during the Ukraine war. “War is scary. But I’m shocked by human aggression and hatred,” the footballer wrote on Instagram. “I am against discrimination based on nationality.”
He is not ashamed of his nationality. “I’m proud to be Russian. And I don’t understand why athletes have to suffer,” wrote Dzyuba, who is currently playing in St. Petersburg. He is against double standards. “Why does everyone always say that sport should stay out of politics, but at the first opportunity, when it comes to Russia, this principle is completely forgotten?” In view of this alleged separation of sport and politics, the German Formula 1 driver Sebastian Vettel recently justified his clear public rejection of the Russian war of aggression as follows: “There are certain topics on which one cannot remain silent.”
Dzyuba, on the other hand, wrote, referring to other athletes who had criticized the behavior of Russian athletes in recent days: “The war will end, but human relations will remain”, and “to some colleagues who are sitting on their butts in villas in England and say bad things: That cannot offend us!”