As the Russian-invasion of Ukraine's professional football season was suspended, foreign players playing in the league made a desperate escape.



The Ukrainian professional football Premier League announced on the 24th that "the season has been suspended due to the entry into force of national martial law."



The Ukrainian professional football Premier League, in which 16 teams compete, played until the 23rd, but has not been played since the 24th, when the Russian air raid began.



The Ukrainian League includes prestigious clubs such as Shakhtar Donetsk and Dynamo Kiev, which frequently participate in UEFA club competitions of the European Football Federation.



The American newspaper The New York Times reported on the difficulties of foreign players playing in the Ukrainian league today (27th).



This newspaper conveyed the local atmosphere through interviews with about 70 foreign players and their families who play in the Ukrainian league.



Most of the players came from Brazil, but also from other South American countries and Italy.



Those gathered at a hotel in Kiev complained about war and anxiety.



"I need your help, there is no way to leave Ukraine," said Brazilian forwards Junior Morais and Marlon Santos, playing for Shakhtar Donetsk.



According to them, food is insufficient, and the diapers needed for children are already running out.



Currently, there are no flights to foreign countries, and it is difficult to operate a vehicle due to insufficient oil supply.



They also spoke on the phone with UEFA president Alexander Zepperin and said they had promised to "help as much as possible".



In the end, with the help of an employee of the Ukrainian Football Association, they shared two buses, went to a nearby train station, and got on a train for Romania on the afternoon of the 26th local time.



The 2021-2022 season of Ukrainian professional football started in July last year and will be played until May of this year, but it is expected that it will be difficult for the schedule to proceed normally in the future as some matches have been postponed due to Corona 19 and the season has been suspended due to war.



(Photo = Marcos Mota social media video screen capture, Yonhap News)