This is nothing new: the rag has been burning for several years between Russia and Ukraine, and the popular uprising of 2014, which led to the departure of pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych.
Since then, the tension has never subsided between the two neighboring countries, and the slightest pretext is good to rekindle the tensions. Including on a sporting level.
This week, it’s a football shirt that is causing controversy.
On Sunday, the Ukrainian football federation announced that the selection will wear “special outfits” for the 2021 European Championship, which begins this Friday in Rome with the opener Italy-Turkey.
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Occupied regions and populist slogans
The tunic, in the traditional blue and yellow colors of the Ukrainian flag, bears the geographic shape of Ukraine, including… Crimea, a western region that Russia annexed in 2014, but also regions of Ukraine. Donestk and Lugansk controlled by pro-Russian separatists.
And that’s not all… Two slogans – “Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the Heroes ”- also appear on the jersey, referring to a patriot who became a rallying cry for the protesters of the popular uprising of 2014.
At the time, Russia had deemed this revolt illegal and triggered a political and military crisis with the independence of the former Soviet republic.
The Russian Federation takes over UEFA
Since then, Russia has not let go of any affront. And for the Kremlin, the attributes of this new Ukrainian jersey constitute an outright attack. The Russian football association also complained to UEFA in a letter.
“We draw attention to the use of political motives on the Ukrainian national team’s jersey which goes against the basic principles of UEFA’s kit regulations,” the press service said. of the RFS.
Ukrainian president poses with the jersey
The Ukrainian response was not long in coming. The head of state defended the new tunic in person, staging himself on social networks.
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“It (the jersey, note) has several important symbols that unite the Ukrainians,” wrote Volodymyr Zelensky on Instagram, in response to strong reactions from Moscow…
Not sure that calms the tensions. At the Euro, the two nations will not meet in the first round: Russia, one of the host countries, is in group B, while Ukraine has been placed in group C. If they qualify. for the final phase, they will meet again, at best from the quarter-finals.
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why Russia is rebelling against Ukraine’s jersey
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