courtesy bbc.com
Russian officials have reacted angrily after the head of the Ukraine football association unveiled their new national team shirt which has a map of Ukraine that includes the conflicted place of Crimea. There is a slogan as well at the top of the back that says “Glory to Ukraine! ” and on the inside, it declares “Glory to the heroes!”
Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 and has sought to. Integrate the peninsula into Russia permanently but it is recognized as part of Ukraine internationally. There has been a lot of dispute regarding this land in the past.
The head of the Ukraine football association said that we believe that the silhouette of Ukraine will give strength to the players because they will fight for all Ukraine and all Ukraine, from Sevastopol and Simferopol to Kyiv, from Donetsk and Lugansk to Uzhgorod will support them in every match. Sevastopol and Simferopol are in Crimea under Russian control while Donetsk and Lugansk are controlled by fighters seen in Russian proxy forces.
Several fixtures during Euro 2020 are scheduled for St Petersburg’s stadium including a quarter-final match. Ukraine is not currently scheduled to play in Russia or against the Russian national side. They are in group C with Netherlands, Austria and North Macedonia.