“Discredited Club”: Ukrainian FC Agrobusiness terminated a contract with a player due to his trip to St. Petersburg

“Sorry, but today football is politics.”

A loud scandal with a political color broke out at the end of the week in Ukrainian football. The club of the local First League (the country's second strongest division) Agribusiness broke off a contract with one of its leading football players Igor Sikorsky because of his "demonstrative trip to Russia." The fact is that the athlete recently visited St. Petersburg, and posted photos from the trip on social networks. In the leadership of the team, Sikorsky did not understand this behavior and decided to act as harshly as possible - to break off labor relations with him.

“It's a shame, but today football is politics. When a war is fought in Ukraine and the seriously wounded and killed are brought in, heroes are buried almost every day in different parts of Ukraine, the Ukrainian football community cannot stand aside as if it doesn’t concern her, ”the statement posted on the official website says. Agribusiness. "

The club accused Sikorsky of “discrediting” FC Agribusiness, which “supports the Ukrainian army” with his behavior.

It is worth explaining that in Kiev they continue to accuse Moscow of involvement in the conflict in the southeast of the country, and in 2018, the Ukrainian legislation fixed the naming of Russia as an “aggressor country”. Moscow has consistently denied such allegations, emphasizing that the intra-Ukrainian confrontation in the Donbass is due to the consequences of the 2014 coup, which ultimately escalated into an armed conflict between Kiev and the self-proclaimed republics.

“At a time when he, in the equipment of our team, was resting in the invading country, in just one day nine seriously wounded soldiers were transported from the front line, two more died. Agribusiness FC considers it unacceptable for this player to be a player in our club. Agribusiness FC unilaterally terminates the contract with Igor Sikorsky, ”the statement said.

Also, the club’s press service published a screenshot of the photo of the football player on Instagram on Palace Square. In the commentary, one of the subscribers asked Sikorsky if he was still playing Agro. Igor answered in the affirmative, and Agribusiness concluded his statement with the phrase: “No, Igor, you are no longer playing.”

“I couldn’t imagine what it would result in”

The Sikorsky’s decision itself, to put it mildly, was surprising. He noted that he did not expect such a reaction from his own team. According to the athlete, he arrived in St. Petersburg for four days at the invitation of relatives.

“Honestly, I could not even imagine what it would result in. If I knew that because of this trip such a noise would make around my name and the club would like to terminate the contract, then, of course, I would not think about this trip. Indeed, it caused a shock ”, - quotes Sikorsky Sportarena.

He also recalled that he was far from the first Ukrainian athlete to travel to Russia in recent years.

“Why, when Andriy Shevchenko visited the hockey match in St. Petersburg during the war with Russia, it didn’t provoke such a violent reaction from the Ukrainian community, there wasn’t such a hype like in the case with me? Or, for example, Alexander Usik fought in Russia, but is still a hero for many Ukrainian media. I understand everything and agree with any decision of the club from Volochisk. I accept it as it is, ”the player added.

At the same time, Sikorsky deleted all photos from St. Petersburg from his Instagram account. However, on his page you can find a story from the KHL match between SKA and Yokerit. This meeting took place on January 16th.

As for Agribusiness, the club from Khmelnitsky region lost one of its leaders: in 18 matches of the First League, the striker scored eight goals and gave two assists. Largely due to the efforts of Sikorsky, the team is fighting for access to the elite and after the first part of the season is only two points behind the first place.

Contract breaks for supporting the Russian national team and playing in the championship of Crimea

However, this case was far from the first of its kind in Ukrainian football. So, in the summer of 2018, the decision of the Lviv “Carpathians” to break the agreement with the young goalkeeper Mikhail Gotra was widely publicized. The young goalkeeper suffered because of too active support for the Russian team during the World Cup. He was not embarrassed by his sympathies and posted the corresponding posts on social networks, which did not escape the attention of the vice-president of the Carpathians Oleg Smalyichuk.

“I made the decision on Gotra personally, and all responsibility for breaking the contract with the player lies with me, as the head of the club. Maybe too dramatically and emotionally, but in football it is impossible without emotions. Like in war. My brothers are killed almost daily. And I ask the fans to forgive the boy, I’m sure he already regrets his action, ”Smalyichuk wrote on Facebook.

In response, Gotra said that he was always far from politics, and was ill for the Russian team in many respects because it was headed by well-known goalkeeper Stanislav Cherchesov, whose team was successful in the playoff match with Spain.

“I had no intention of glorifying Russian football, although at this stage I am delighted with the fortune of Russian football players, who were considered outsiders. About the reaction of the "Carpathians" and the fans. Now I really comprehended my act and realized that for them it was unacceptable. I understand and accept the whole barrage of criticism that comes from them. Indeed, all the fans are devoted patriots of their state and Ukrainian football, and I am delighted with them, ”the football player wrote.

However, the decision of the Carpathians in this situation in Ukraine was far from supported by all. For example, Anatoly Popov, the former vice president of the FFU, emphasized that it has no legal basis.

“Accusations of separatism are complete idiocy if they break the contract for such things. This has nothing to do with legal football standards. In our disciplinary rules there is no concept of “football separatism”. Therefore, resorting to such formulations is at least incorrect. There is such a famous phrase: "Sport is out of politics." Unfortunately, football is now in political gear. Around him there is a lot of alluvial, and this does not contribute to a political settlement or the development of football. Hatred, which is being developed on this basis, is not good for anyone. We need to be careful about this situation, to understand, ”Popov cites the words“ Championship ”.

A little later, the club of the local Second League Veres from Rivne terminated the agreement with midfielder Sergei Chebotaryov only three days after signing the contract with him.

The team explained this decision with what they found out: in 2016, a Ukrainian footballer played in the Crimean championship for Kafa. At the same time, the player himself indicated only Bukovina and Georgian Zugdidi as the last teams.