Foreign players are leaving Kharkov “Metalist” and Donetsk “Shakhtar”
Moscow – Kyiv, July 23 (Navigator, Mikhail Stamm) – Yesterday three Argentine football players refused to return to the location of the Kharkov “Metalist”. In total, the number of Kharkov refuseniks has already reached four. Earlier, Shakhtar Donetsk found itself in a similar situation, with six South Americans refusing to play for it. The reason for the football players' demarche is the same in all cases: war.
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Three Argentine football players - forward Jonathan Cristaldo, as well as midfielders Jose Sosa and Alejandro Gomez - decided not to return to the location of Metalist Kharkov. The players are currently in their homeland and do not intend to return yet. As Alejandro Gomez noted, “there is no point in staying in a country in which we do not feel at ease.” “We will remain in Argentina until everything is settled or until our contracts are terminated,” explained the midfielder. “The disaster with Malaysian Boeing was the last straw that overflowed the cup of our patience. I have a wife and a child, I can’t put their lives in danger.” The footballer also noted that he, like Cristaldo and Sosa, counts on understanding from the management of Metalist and that the International Football Federation (FIFA) will take their position.
At the end of last week, also due to fears for his safety, midfielder Sebastian Blanco refused to return to Kharkov. The club has already demanded that he appear at the team’s location and strictly comply with the terms of the contract, but Blanco has not yet responded.
Last week, six South Americans declared their unwillingness to play for Shakhtar Donetsk. Considering that Donetsk is regularly bombed, Shakhtar planned to hold its matches in other cities - in Kharkov or Kiev. But this did not deter the players. Argentinean Facundo Ferreira, as well as five Brazilians - Fred, Dentinho, Alex Teixeira, Douglas Costa and Ismaily - expressed their readiness to return if, until the situation in Ukraine stabilizes, Shakhtar will be based in Switzerland, and will appear in Ukraine only during matches.
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