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The repercussions of the Ukrainian conflicts on football

By on July 22, 2014

Football is a game that can survive through even the worst of situations. So beloved and simple a game it is, that even during the worst of the worst wars ceasefires can be brought for a game of football – World War I a prime example of this. And as battle wage on in Ukraine, football is not dead. And even professional football has not yet come to a full stop; it is still hanging by its fingertips.

The Ukrainian Premier League’s top club, Shakthar Donestk, is located in the middle of a city currently right in the middle of battle between pro-Russia militia, and Ukrainian government forces. The Ukrainian league begins on Friday. Already, two top tier clubs based in Crimea have left the league following Russia’s annexation of the peninsula, leaving the already small league down to just fourteen teams. Metalurh Donetsk, Olimpik Donetsk, Zorya Luhansk, as well as Shakthar have been forced to relocate. As the conflicts rage on, with hardly signs of stopping in the near future, more clubs could have to be relocated, or even abandon the league, as well.

And it isn’t only the clubs that are weary of the conflicts – just over the past few days news has broken that three of Shakthar’s best players, Alex Teixeira, Douglas Costa, and Brazilian World Cup 2014 squad member Fred have refused to rejoin their squad in Ukraine following a friendly in Lyon. Amid the conflicts, the players view coming back to Ukraine proves a “deadly risk”.

I like the club, the people, the city, but I’m afraid. “We want to stay at the club, but we must have risk-free working conditions.” – Douglas Costa

Furthermore, they are not the only players not willing to take the risk. Where their side is likely to relocate, and have publicly hinted they prefer to, is in the nearby city of Kharkiv. Even in that city, considered relatively safe compared to other cities nearby at the moment, has been undergoing enough unrest to have four players from their local club Metalist Kharkiv, refuse to play in the city.

But for now, the Ukrainian Premier League is continuing in vast majority of the country that is still safe from the conflicts. And for the people, the start of the league this weekend will provide a nice bit of normality amid the chaos. Football has once again found space turning the worst of times. Many opinions are to scratch this season, but as long as there are safe havens left in the country, there are still those who would not let the league disband.

About Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan, founder of Football Every Day, lives and breaths football from the West Coast of the United States in California. Aside from founding Football Every Day in January of 2013, Alex has also launched his own journalism career and hopes to help others do the same with FBED. He covers the San Jose Earthquakes as a beat reporter for QuakesTalk.com and his work has also been featured in the BBC's Match of the Day Magazine.