Oleksiy Mykhailychenko: UAF will do whatever it takes to remove Russia from football as far as possible

07.08.2023 11:43

Photo of UAF press service

The fact sent from the Ukrainian Football Association applications to UEFA with a request to remove representatives of the terrorist state from working in the administrative bodies of the European football organization, first vice-president of UAF Oleksiy Mykhailychenko commented to Yediny Noviny:

— We are very concerned about the situation and in our letter we note that this is unacceptable. I am also a member of the UEFA National Teams Committee and I do not understand how it is possible to cooperate with the Russians or even be in the same room with them. At the last congress held in Portugal, I saw the attitude of almost all participants towards the Russian delegation. There were no greetings - they were as if separated from the entire football world.

We are very grateful to FIFA and UEFA, who gave a decent assessment to the Russian terrorists and excluded them from international competitions. But with every step, every action, we must show that Russia has no place in the civilized world.

For example, I am proud of what Olga Harlan has done. For me, she is not only a world champion, but also a world champion. No championship medals, no prizes are worth more than honor, conscience and peace.

For our part, we at the UAF held our executive committee and we see that there is intrigue again in Ukrainian football, there is the country's primacy. On the international arena, we will prove to everyone that the presence of Russians is unacceptable.

- In your opinion, why despite the fact that the war continues, the crimes of Russia are recorded, its citizens are assigned to such organizations? Are there political or financial reasons?

— Yes, there are political and, to some extent, financial reasons, because Russia is trying to use leverage on the front line, in art, and in sports. In order to make their way into the world, they use their entire arsenal.

We understand that football is the game of millions, the first in the world, and for them it is very important. But I emphasize once again - our position will remain the same as we have been holding since the first days of the war. I hope everyone remembers the map of Ukraine and the logo "Glory to Ukraine!" on T-shirts of the national team. We will always prove ourselves right and fight for Russia to withdraw from football as far as possible.