Premier League, EFL and WSL clubs show solidarity with Ukraine | Football News
Leicester City and Leeds United kicked off the Premier League’s planned show of support for Ukraine following Russia’s invasion of the country.
In Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off at the King Power Stadium, pro-Ukraine and anti-war messages were on display with further in-stadium activity promoting peace.
Following the invasion of Ukraine, players draping the country’s flag around them as they walked out was just one of the gestures shown in last weekend’s fixtures – and similar marks of solidarity featured before the match in Leicester.
Both sets of players observed a moment’s silence for Ukraine, while a Ukrainian flag was also held by the teams.
Leicester supporters displayed a banner reading ‘We Stand with Ukraine’ alongside a picture of the Ukrainian flag before their game against Leeds.
A donation bucket raising funds for the Leicester City Ukraine Appeal
The King Power Stadium ahead of kick-off
All 20 Premier League captains will wear special armbands in Ukrainian colours this weekend, including Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel and Leeds defender Luke Ayling.
Fans have been encouraged to join players, managers, match officials and club staff in a moment of reflection and solidarity before kick-off at each game.
The screens at stadiums will display ‘Football Stands Together’ against the backdrop of the blue and yellow colours of the Ukrainian flag.
In the WSL, Brighton wore their blue and yellow third kit against Aston Villa as the two teams displayed a Ukraine flag before kick-off.
It is a weekend in which the footballing community is coming together as one to show support. Ahead of kick-off around the country, teams will stand on the centre-circle to think about all of those affected by the shocking events in Ukraine.
Premier League captains wore armbands of the Ukraine flag
Shevchenko: Football means nothing | My family refuse to leave Ukraine
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Andriy Shevchenko delivered a powerful message to the Russian people, urging them to play their part in the ending the war
Andriy Shevchenko has told Sky Sports News his family have refused to leave the Ukraine amid the Russian invasion and says his country is “united for freedom”.
Shevchenko, one of Ukraine’s most famous sportspeople, was the manager of the country’s national side until last summer and began and ended his playing career in the country’s capital with Dynamo Kyiv.
The 45-year-old has remained in London during the conflict to help lead the appeal to get humanitarian aid to his country, and laid bare the scale of the atrocities he is hearing of through his family.
Read the exclusive Sky Sports interview here
Mykolenko hits out at Russia players for silence over Ukraine invasion
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Oleksandr Zinchenko and Vitaliy Mykolenko embrace before Everton take on Manchester City as Goodison Park puts on a show of unity to support Ukraine
Everton’s Vitaliy Mykolenko has hit out at Russia captain Artem Dzyuba and his international team-mates for their silence over the invasion of Ukraine.
The Ukraine defender, who joined Everton from Dynamo Kyiv in January, embraced his international colleague Oleksandr Zinchenko before Manchester City’s clash with the Toffees last weekend as the attention of the football world focused on the plight of their country.
But, while support for Ukraine has been widespread, Cherkasy-born Mykolenko is furious that has not extended to players from the Russia football team.
