How the Ukraine Conflict affects Soccer

Following Russia’s attack on Ukraine, the whole soccer world has been affected in different ways. Some of the biggest soccer clubs have Ukrainian players, who have been traumatized, and now Russia is being excluded from the World Cup.

Manchester City, Everton, West Ham, and even Dynamo Kyiv, a soccer team in Ukraine, have all been affected. Manchester City’s left-back, Oleksandr Zinchenko, and Everton’s defender, Vitaliy Mykolenko shared a tearful moment in Manchester City vs. Everton. The whole Manchester City and Everton XI paid tribute to Ukraine by wearing the Ukrainian flag on their jersey before the game. In the Carabao Cup Finals (Liverpool vs. Chelsea), Liverpool fans held up a sign regarding no war in Ukraine. Many soccer players have also supported the ‘No War’ cause, including Matty Cash (Aston Villa), Ruslan Malinovskyi (Atalanta), and even Aleksei Miranchuk (Atlanta), an original Russian who refused to celebrate after scoring a goal.

Russia‘s national team has also been affected by this incident. Russia has now been excluded from the World Cup, and any chances of qualifying, even after hosting the 2018 World Cup and making it to the Quarter-Finals. Poland, the Czech Republic, and Sweden refuse to play in the upcoming World Cup qualifying matches taking place in Russia. Plus, the Champions League Final has now been moved from St. Petersburg, Russia to Paris, France.

That is everything/everyone that was affected by the Russia/Ukraine incident. All we can do now is pray for the safety of all Ukrainians, and that the soccer world will get back on its feet.