Ukraine reached a provisional agreement with UEFA on Friday that will allow the Ukrainian team to wear the uniform with the nationalist motto “Glory to the Heroes” during the European Championship“, questioned for its” clearly political “nature.
The Ukrainian Football Association (UAF) unanimously adopted this motto as its symbol, an argument that was presented to UEFA in Rome by the president of the Ukrainian federation, Andrii Pavelko.
“UEFA accepted the decision of the UAF Executive Committee today and asked for time to further study this issue after the final of the Euro 2020 Cup.” Pavelko stated in your Facebook account.
According to the president of the UAF, these were difficult negotiations, which at times was “a conversation of the deaf.”
However, the Ukrainian association obtained not only permission to wear the uniform during the Eurocup, but also pTo freely sell the shirts representing the national team.
“We have shown that 'Glory to Ukraine' and 'Glory to heroes', the coat of arms on the map of Ukraine, are official symbols of football in our country “, spointed out.
UEFA had initially given the go-ahead to the Ukrainian team, but yesterday asked the Ukraine team to the controversial nationalist slogan was removed from his shirt, a decision he appealed the UAF.
The jersey, which was featured in a video Sunday with the Ukraine coach Andrei Shevchenko, and the players, provoked protests from Russia, which considers it a “political provocation”.
The map of Ukraine, with the appendix of the Crimean peninsula, whose annexation in 2014 by Russia is not recognized by the international community, surrounds the national crest on a kit designed by the Spanish brand Joma.
What's more, It also includes two slogans that in Russia are associated with Ukrainian ultranationalists: “Glory to Ukraine” and “Glory to Heroes”.
The Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament, Dmitro Razumkov, said Thursday that the slogan combination, used widely during the Maidan Square protests in 2013, is an official greeting, established by Ukrainian law, and “does not offend anyone's feelings.”
Since 2018 the phrase is used by the Armed Forces of Ukraine as an official greeting.