Russia the sporting pariah: How sport reacted after Ukraine invasion

The world of sport turned on Russia today after Vladimir Putin declared war on Ukraine, invading in the early hours.

Four-time F1 world champion Sebastian Vettel called for the Sochi Grand Prix in September to be boycotted while the Champions League final in St Petersburg on May 28 is set be moved elsewhere.

UEFA came under threat to seriously consider changing the location of the European showpiece and the football governing body are indeed expected to strip Russia of the huge sporting event.

Premier League and Ukrainian star Oleksandr Zinchenko was one of the first high-profile sports figures to speak out following Russia’s invasion, saying he ‘hopes Putin dies’.

Scared Brazilian footballers stranded in Ukraine are begging their government to come to their aid and evacuate them, while former Shakhtar Donetsk manager Paulo Fonseca, also stuck in the country, said it was ‘the worst day of my life’.

The Ukrainian football league has been paused for 30 days at least with martial law introduced overnight, and the Swedish FA say it’s ‘almost unthinkable’ that they could face the Czech Republic in a World Cup play-off match in Russia in March. 

Russia have launched all-out war on Ukraine with missiles and bombs, tanks rolling across the border from Belarus, troops parachuted down on eastern regions and explosions seen across the country after Putin personally gave the order for his forces to attack.

And this is how the world of sport responded… 

‘I will not go… it’s wrong to race in that country’: Four-time F1 world champion Sebastian Vettel calls for Russian Grand Prix to be CANCELLED after invasion of Ukraine by ‘a very strange and mad leadership’, as sport’s bosses stall on a decision

Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel has called on Formula One’s bosses to remove the Russian Grand Prix from the 2022 calendar after the invasion of Ukraine.

Aston Martin driver Vettel, 34, became the first F1 star to speak out.

The German’s words come as an F1 statement refused to commit on making a decision over the race, which is due to be held in Sochi on September 25.

‘In my personal opinion, obviously I woke up again after this morning’s news, shocked,’ Vettel said on Thursday as pre-season testing continued in Barcelona.

‘I think it’s horrible to see what is happening. Obviously if you look at the calendar, we have a race scheduled in Russia.

‘For myself, my own opinion is I should not go, I will not go. I think it’s wrong to race in that country. I’m sorry for the people, innocent people who are losing their lives, getting killed for stupid reasons under a very strange and mad leadership.

Reigning world champion Max Verstappen stopped short of condemning Russia, but also thinks the race should be scrapped. He said: ‘When a country is at war, it is not right to race there.’

A statement released by Formula One earlier on Thursday read: ‘F1 is closely watching the very fluid developments like many others and at this time has no further comment on the race scheduled for September.

‘We will continue to monitor the situation very closely.’

The statement followed reports that the Russian Grand Prix had been removed from F1’s ticketing website, before later reappearing.

Manchester City’s Ukrainian star Oleksandr Zinchenko claims Instagram DELETED his post telling Russian president Vladimir Putin ‘I hope you die the most painful suffering death, creature’

Ukraine footballer Oleksandr Zinchenko claims Instagram have deleted his story post saying he hopes Putin suffers the ‘most painful suffering death’.

The Manchester City defender, on his Instagram story, posted a photo of Putin with the caption: ‘I hope you die the most painful suffering death, creature.’ 

Yet that story post has since been taken down and Zinchenko claims that Instagram have deleted his post in seemingly a move of censorship of the Ukraine international. Sportsmail has contacted Instagram for comment. 

The 25-year-old said on Tuesday that he ‘can’t stand back’ while ‘the whole civilised world is concerned about my country’ and has again taken to social media on Thursday morning. 

In an emotional message on Tuesday Zinchenko, who started his career at Russian club FC Ufa, said: ‘The whole civilised world is worried about the situation in my country. 

‘I can’t stay back and strive to put my point across. In the photo – my country. The country where I was born and raised. 

‘A country whose colours I defend in the international sports arena. A country that we try to glorify and develop. 

‘A country whose borders must remain inviolable. My country belongs to Ukrainians and no one will ever be able to appropriate it. We will not give up! Glory to Ukraine.’ 

Zinchenko’s wife Vlada Shcheglovam who is a journalist, posted a photo of a pro-Ukraine rally in London on Wednesday night. 

UEFA call a Friday morning emergency summit to STRIP St Petersburg of the Champions League final after Russia’s all-out invasion of Ukraine, with Wembley, West Ham and Tottenham all keen to bring the game to England

Russia will be stripped of the Champions League final after UEFA convened an emergency meeting for Friday. 

The showpiece event of European club football was scheduled to be held at the Krestovsky Stadium in St Petersburg on May 28.

But the final will be relocated, with three London venues – Wembley Stadium, the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and West Ham’s London Stadium – potential alternatives.

A UEFA statement said: ‘Following the evolution of the situation between Russia and Ukraine in the last 24 hours, the UEFA President has decided to call an extraordinary meeting of the Executive Committee for Friday 25 February at 10:00 CET, in order to evaluate the situation and take all necessary decisions.’

UEFA is also under increasing pressure to drop their £33million-a-season sponsorship deal with the majority state-owned Russian energy provider Gazprom, who also sponsor the UEFA Nations League and European Championship finals.

All members of UEFA’s executive committee have been invited to the meeting, including Alexander Dyukov. He is the president of Zenit St Petersburg and the Russian Football Union as well as being the chief executive of Gazprom. 

Sportsmail reported that West Ham’s owners would be open to staging the Champions League final at their 62,500-capacity London Stadium.

Wembley – which holds 90,000 spectators – is an option but the stadium is set to hold the Championship and League Two play-off finals on the same weekend.

The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – capacity 62,850 – or West Ham’s home have no such concern.

Terrified Brazilian football stars stranded in Ukraine film a video begging their government to send a plane and evacuate them and reveal ‘food is running out, there’s no fuel, no money’

Brazilian footballers stranded in war-hit Ukraine have appealed to their government for an immediate evacuation, saying ‘the situation is one of despair.’

A video clip showed players from Shakhtar Donetsk and Dynamo Kyiv, with their families, gathered in a hotel in the Ukrainian capital.

‘Borders are closed, banks [are shut], there is no fuel, there will be a shortage of food, there is no money. 

The journalist Arthur Quezada posted a video on Twitter showing several Brazilian players assembled to make an appeal to the authorities in their home country to get them out of Ukraine.

Their partners and young children were also visible in the video.  

The Shakhtar striker Junior Moraes, 34, sent a message saying: ‘The situation is one of despair. I ask you to disclose this video so that it reaches the [Brazilian] government.

‘Borders are closed, banks [are shut], there is no fuel, there will be a shortage of food, there is no money. 

‘We are gathered waiting for a plan to leave Ukraine.’

Moraes posted a message on Instagram that read: ‘All friends and family, the situation is serious and we are stuck in Kiev waiting for a solution to get out. We are inside a hotel. Pray for us.’ 

Moraes was born in Brazil but is a Ukraine international. There are 12 Brazilian players in the Shakhtar squad, while the forward Vitinho plays for Dynamo Kyiv.

David Neres, a Brazil international, had just completed a transfer from Dutch club Ajax to Shakhtar last month.

Other Brazilian players in Shakhtar’s squad are defenders Dodo, Vitao, Marlon, Ismaily and Vinicius Tobias, plus midfielders Maycon, Marcos Antonio, Tete, Alan Patrick, Pedrinho and Fernando.

Commercial airlines have grounded flights to and from Ukraine, preventing an exit for any foreigners, while Russia’s assault on the country from the south, east and north has made an escape by land highly treacherous. 

Former Shakhtar Donetsk manager Paulo Fonseca reveals he is stranded in Kiev with his Ukrainian wife and son and ‘praying a bomb doesn’t fall on us’ on ‘the worst day of my life’, after his flight out of the capital was cancelled

Portuguese football manager Paulo Fonseca is stranded in Ukraine with his wife and son after their last-ditch attempt to escape war-torn Kiev failed with their morning flight abandoned.

Fonseca, who previously coached Roma in Italy, is married to Ukrainian Katerina Ostroushko and they had a son together in 2019.

With Russia heading for Ukraine amid growing political tensions, Fonseca had plotted an exit route from Kiev via a 10am flight, only to see all commercial flights suspended.

Airports are destroyed following missile strikes, roads are log-jammed with Ukrainians trying to escape to nearby Poland and Fonseca is holed up in a Kiev hotel on what he has labelled the ‘worst day of his life’. 

‘I woke up at five in the morning with five explosions in a row,’ he told Jornal de Noticias. 

‘I had a flight scheduled for today, but now it is impossible to leave here, not least because the airports are already destroyed and the airspace has been closed. 

‘This is the worst day of my life. Now it’s time to wait and be lucky. And pray that a bomb doesn’t fall on us.’

With flights grounded and Russia’s assault on the country from the south, east and north making an escape by land highly treacherous, Fonseca confessed to not knowing a way out. 

His wife Katerina wrote on Instagram, accompanied with a picture of the couple’s son: ‘Worst morning ever. Pain. Anger, anger, anger and pain. 

‘My little son didn’t deserve the war. The children of Ukraine did not deserve the war.’

Swedish FA chief insists it’s ‘almost UNTHINKABLE’ that they could face a World Cup play-off match in Russia next month, saying there’s ‘no desire to play football’ in the country after the invasion of Ukraine

A 2022 World Cup play-off match in Russia is ‘almost unthinkable’ at the moment, the chairman of the Swedish Football Association has said following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Thursday.

Sweden are due to face the Czech Republic in a World Cup play-off Path B match on March 24, with the victor meeting the winner of the other group game between Poland and Russia.

Wins for Sweden and Russia would mean the two sides meeting in Russia on March 29, with a place at the Qatar World Cup at stake.

Karl-Erik Nilsson said: ‘It’s a possible scenario… spontaneously around the feelings we have as we wake up this morning are that it is almost unthinkable that we in a few weeks would play a football match in Russia.’

‘As it looks here and now, today, there is absolutely no desire to play a football match in Russia,’ he added.

REVEALED: Russia could be KICKED OUT of the Women’s Euros in England this summer following Thursday’s invasion of Ukraine… with their participation to be debated at UEFA’s emergency meeting tomorrow

Russia could be kicked out of the Women’s European Championship, which is set to be held in England this summer.

The issue will be discussed at Friday’s emergency UEFA meeting, which was convened following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Thursday morning. 

Foreign secretary Liz Truss had previously urged English teams to boycott the men’s Champions League final, which was set to be held in St Petersburg.

And there are now doubts over whether Russia will be allowed to travel to England to compete in this summer’s tournament.

Russia qualified after winning their play-off with Portugal and were subsequently drawn alongside Holland, Sweden and Switzerland in Group C.

Several outcomes are likely to be discussed, including their expulsion from the competition.

Another option could see the players compete under a neutral name, similar to how Russian athletes participated in the Olympics. 

German football team Schalke 04 remove Russian state-owned sponsor Gazprom’s name from their shirts after Vladimir Putin declared war on Ukraine, as president’s ally Matthias Warnig resigns from club’s board

One of Germany’s biggest football teams, Schalke 04, have removed the name of Russian sponsors Gazprom from their shirts after Vladimir Putin declared war on Ukraine on Thursday.

Energy company Gazprom are majority-owned by the Russian state and are major sponsors of the Champions League as well as of Schalke.

The connection between Schalke and Gazprom was set up by Nord Stream 2 CEO Matthias Warnig, a former officer in East Germany’s notorious Stasi state police and a known ally of Putin’s. 

A club statement read: ‘Following recent developments, FC Schalke 04 have decided to remove the logo of main sponsor GAZPROM from the club’s shirts. It will be replaced by lettering reading ‘Schalke 04′ instead.’ 

‘No war’: Russian footballer condemns his country’s invasion of Ukraine as the Dynamo Moscow striker becomes the first high-profile player from Vladimir Putin’s homeland to speak out

Russia and Dynamo Moscow striker Fedor Smolov has expressed his opposition to the country’s invasion of Ukraine by writing ‘no war’ on Instagram.

Smolov has become the first Russian player to comment on the situation, taking to Instagram himself to condemn his country’s move on Thursday. 

The striker, who has earned 45 caps for Russia in his career, posted a black square and wrote the caption: ‘No war’ along with a broken-heart emoji and the Ukraine flag. 

Ukraine’s football league is paused for a minimum of 30 DAYS 

The Ukrainian Premier League has been paused for a minimum of 30 days.

The league was meant to restart on Friday following its winter break but the league confirmed via their official website that the start has been delayed after the introduction of martial law overnight by Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskyy. 

Russian tennis player Andrey Rublev describes his country’s invasion of Ukraine as ‘terrible’ and says ‘peace is the most important thing’… just days after he won an ATP doubles title with a Ukrainian partner 

Andrey Rublev awoke on Thursday to find that his own country had invaded that of his doubles partner.

Five days previously the Russian world No 7 had won the ATP title in Marseille alongside Ukrainian Denys Molchanov, an unlikely alliance in light of wider world events.

Rublev tried to put the images he had seen on television in the morning out of his head before tackling American MacKenzie McDonald in the quarter-finals of the Dubai Duty Free Championships.

He just about managed to do so and registered a 2-6 6-3 6-1 victory after losing the first five games. The 24 year-old Muscovite admitted later that he is troubled by infinitely more profound happenings elsewhere.

‘In these moments you realise that my match is not important. It’s not about my match, how it affect me. What’s happening is much more terrible,’ said Rublev.

‘You realise how important is to have peace in the world and to respect each other no matter what, to be united. It’s about that we should be take care of our earth and of each other. This is the most important thing.’

Like compatriot Daniil Medvedev, Rublev has been targeted online due to his nationality, something that comes with representing a pariah nation.

Russia’s 2022 Qatar World Cup qualifying play-off opponents unite to DEMAND that next month’s fixtures are moved from Moscow following Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine

The Football Assocations of Poland, Sweden and Czech Republic have demanded that next month’s World Cup qualifying play-offs be moved from Russia in the wake of their invasion of Ukraine.

Russian president Vladimir Putin declared war on Ukraine on Thursday morning, swiftly launching strikes all over the country to the condemnation of the international community.

Russia are due to host Poland in Moscow on March 24 in a play-off semi-final, before the winner faces Sweden or Czech Republic for a place in Qatar five days later. If Russia beat Poland then the final will also be played at Moscow’s VTB Arena.

But in a statement released on Thursday afternoon, the other three nations in UEFA’s ‘Path B’ route of the revamped qualifying system have demanded the fixtures be moved. 

The statement reads: ‘Based on the current alarming development in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine including the security situation the Football Associations of Poland, Sweden and Czech Republic express their firm position that the playoff matches to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, scheduled for 24 and 29 March 2022, should not be played in the territory of the Russian Federation. 

‘The signatories of this appeal do not consider travelling to Russia and playing matches there. The military escalation that we are observing entails serious consequences and considerably lower safety for our national football teams and official delegations. 

‘Therefore, we expect FIFA and UEFA to react immediately and to present alternative solutions regarding places where these approaching playoff matches could be played.’

Russia, who hosted the last World Cup in 2018, finished second in their UEFA qualifying group behind Croatia and were seeded for the play-off draw. 

Defiant Ukraine coach Oleksandr Petrakov insists his team’s World Cup play-off with Scotland next month WILL go ahead as he predicts a ‘quick victory’ over invading Russian forces

Ukraine boss Oleksandr Petrakov insists preparations for next month’s World Cup play-off in Scotland will continue as planned.

UEFA’s Executive Committee will meet on Friday to discuss the crisis created by a full-scale Russian military onslaught.

The Ukrainian Government has imposed martial law on the nation and closed down football for a month, placing the play-off qualifier at Hampden on March 24 in serious doubt. 

In a statement of defiance, however, veteran Ukraine boss Petrakov believes the game will go ahead after a ‘quick victory.’

‘In this difficult time we must be united, support each other and believe in our army and our state,’ he said. ‘We are on our Ukrainian land and we have nothing to fear.

‘I am 64 years old, I have lived in Kiev all my life. I am here now, I am not going anywhere and I am ready to help my country as much as I can.

‘Sport in such moments recedes into the background; the main thing is life, peace, tranquility of people.

‘I believe that after our quick victory we will continue to prepare for the decisive matches of the national team of Ukraine in the play-offs of the World Cup.

‘We are the whole team, all the guys who are always proud to present the great nation on the football field. We do not give up, we all think about Ukraine and live in Ukraine. Glory to Ukraine.’

The Ukrainian League began a winter break on December 12. 

Domestic action was scheduled to resume on Friday but a statement from the central body confirmed there would be no further competitive action until two days after the projected game against Scotland.

Sixteen of the Petrakov’s squad play their football in Ukraine. Nine hail from Dynamo Kiev, who have vowed to carry on as normal. 

Barcelona and Napoli lead football’s continued condemnation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine by standing in front of ‘Stop War’ banner before Europa League match… while Man City star Oleksandr Zinchenko is seen in Manchester city centre vigil

Football continued to display anti-war messages following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine earlier on Thursday – including Barcelona and Napoli players coming together in front of a ‘Stop War’ banner.

Vladimir Putin declared war on Ukraine by invading the country in the early hours of Thursday morning – with various aspects of the sporting community coming together throughout the day to condemn the day’s events.

Before their Europa League play-off second-leg in southern Italy, Barcelona and Napoli players came together in a peaceful action before kick-off – with all 22 players standing in front of a banner condemning Russia’s actions.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian forward Ruslan Malinovsky scored for Italian side Atalanta in their Europa League clash at Olympiacos – before revealing a shirt that read: ‘No war in Ukraine.’  

Manchester City and Ukraine star Oleksandr Zinchenko – who called for Putin to ‘die painfully’ earlier on Thursday – attended a protest in Manchester’s St Peter’s Square against the invasion. 

Russian side Zenit St Petersburg were also in European action on Thursday evening, with their match at Spanish side Real Betis overshadowed by their decision to drop Ukrainian defender Yaroslav Rakitskiy for speaking out about the invasion.  

Zenit are sponsored by Gazprom the Russian state energy company that pays £33million a year to sponsor the Champions League – the final of which is set to take place in St Petersburg, but UEFA have held talks to remove the May final from the venue. 

In Cordoba, Ukraine’s basketball team played Spain in a 2023 World Cup qualifier and pivot Artem Pustovyi played with the words ‘No War’ written on his face. The Ukraine team were applauded by spectators and the Spain team after their anthem was played before the match.  

Premier League players, managers and fans given go-ahead to display Ukraine flags as a showing of solidarity amidst Russian conflict

Premier League players, managers and fans have the green light to protest against the Russian invasion by displaying Ukraine flags at their games this weekend in a show of solidarity for the besieged nation.

The FA will not consider the presence of flags on the pitch or in the stands as a breach of their rules. The governing body usually prohibit anything construed as a political message.

It comes as the Premier League’s Ukrainian players voiced their anguish on social media, including Manchester City’s Oleksandr Zinchenko, Everton’s Vitalii Mykolenko and West Ham’s Andriy Yarmolenko.

Everton host City in a televised fixture on Saturday evening and will display a banner in support of Mykolenko and Ukraine.

The FA will monitor activities in all their fixtures this weekend and will investigate players or officials who protest on a case-by-case basis. Should any players reveal politically charged shirts in reference to the Russian invasion, they will be liable to sanctions. Displaying the Ukraine flag will not get clubs into trouble.

Sportsmail contacted FIFA, who did not respond. The world governing body previously told competition organisers to apply ‘common sense’ when considering whether to punish players.

In another move, UEFA will today confirm their decision to move the Champions League final from St Petersburg following an emergency meeting of their executive committee. Rome’s Stadio Olimpico has emerged as UEFA’s favoured option.

England’s hopes of gaining another showpiece event after hosting last year’s European Championship final at Wembley are likely to be dashed.

The FA have indicated their willingness to act as emergency hosts at Wembley if required, but were not actively lobbying for the final as they are conscious of the fact UEFA have already awarded them many major events. In addition to the latter stages of the delayed Euro 2020, England will also host the women’s Euros this summer and the 2024 Champions League final. 

Legendary boxers Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko vow to fight for Ukraine amidst Russia invasion… and call for an end to ‘senseless war’ 

Legendary boxers and brothers Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko have vowed to fight for Ukraine amidst the ongoing Russian invasion.

The former heavyweight champions, with Vitali now the mayor of Kiev, have sent out an emotional plea to end the ‘senseless war’ as their country continues to be attacked by Vladimir Putin.

As mayor of the Ukraine capital, Vitali has declared an emergency for the Ukrainian capital, which is now under martial law. 

The pair released a joint video message in Russian, Ukrainian and English on Thursday.

In the video, Wladimir Klitschko said:  ‘I’m calling to all international partners to observe this tragedy that is happening nowadays in Ukraine.

‘And this senseless war that is not going to have any winners, but losers.

‘I just want to tell you we must stay united against this aggression, against Russian aggression.

‘Don’t let it continue happening in Ukraine, don’t let it happen in Europe and eventually in the world.

‘United we are strong, support Ukraine, thank you.’

Amidst the ongoing invasion, the Ukrainian border agency have banned men between age of 18 and 60 leaving the country  

The agency says the measure is aimed at ‘guaranteeing Ukraine’s defence and the organisation of timely mobilisation.’

The temporary ban will remain in force for the duration of martial law declared on Thursday morning.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has just signed a decree ordering a general mobilisation. All Ukrainians who can carry arms have been urged to defend their homeland.

The country’s conscripts and reservists are also being called up, according to the decree, which is to be in effect for 90 days.

Vitali Klitschko became mayor in 2014, as well as head of the Kyiv City State Administration.

His brother Wladimir enlisted in Ukraine’s reserve army in Kyiv earlier this month as the country braced for an attack.