2023-08-13 06:27:11
The Ukrainian football championship continues, in empty stadiums and under tight security, and with exiled teams. An uncomfortable situation for the clubs, but which puts balm in the hearts of the soldiers on the front. Report in the middle of the empty stands of FC Tchornomorets.
Anatoli Misura still does not get used to the sight of these deserted 30,000-seat stands, silent for more than a year. “It makes me want to cry”confides the general director of FC Chornomorets, the first division football club of the city of Odessa. “Before, there, you had the Ultras standhe remembers, standing in the middle of the lawn. There were banners, songs, even songs against Putin for that matter, in short the total.
>> Ukraine: matches moved, behind closed doors, stadiums equipped with air-raid shelters … The football championship is back
“Before” is before the war, before February 24, 2022, and the first bombs that fell on kyiv. There was a hiatus in sports championships, and then football began to resume in Ukraine, but in empty stadiums. The matches are played behind closed doors, the meetings take place under very high security. “We play football for the public, and there is none”regrets Anatoli Misura, who sees Ligue 1 resume in France, with its stadiums full.
“When we see the matches elsewhere in Europe, we envy you.”
Anatoli Misura, general manager of FC Chornomorets
at franceinfo
Disappearing or exiled clubs
The link with the public, some players wanted to maintain it by exchanging directly with their supporters on social networks. It makes things a little less difficult, recognizes Igor, who came to watch all the matches. “Of course people are worried. It was our pleasure before. We know it’s a bad time to go through, waiting for peace and victory”relativizes this great supporter of Odessa.
Anatolli Misura also relativizes: his club still exists. Others were less fortunate. In some cities now occupied by the Russians, the teams had to go into exile, some have disappeared. “Today, unfortunately, Shakhtar Donetsk no longer plays in its stadium. The infrastructures of Mariupol and Chernihiv have been destroyedhe observes. These two clubs no longer play in the league at all.” It is for them that we continue to play and give everything on the field, says the leader.
Igor, a fervent supporter of FC Chornomorets, the Odessa football club. (HAJERA MOHAMMAD / RADIOFRANCE)
For them, and for the many supporters of FC Tchornomorets who are mobilized on the front. “We keep them informed of the results of the matches on Telegram, or in online fan forums”says Igor, who also keeps them informed of the life of the club. “They can also follow match broadcasts on these forums.”
“For the guys on the front, football reminds them of home and gives them good emotions.”
Igor, supporter of the Odessa club
at franceinfo
Today, Igor supports his favorite club more than ever, but not only. “Glory to Ukraine, glory to our heroes, and glory to Chornomorets!”, he says. At least that way it’s clear: the objective this season is the final victory on the football fields and on the front.
In Ukraine, a football championship disrupted by war – Hajera Mohammad’s report
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