The French Handball Federation has announced that it has taken charge of the trip to France for Ukrainian players as part of the qualifications for Euro 2022, on April 23, in Le Havre.

“It will cost us 30,000 euros.

We take care of whatever it takes.

It seems so ridiculous in itself to do that, it's the basis (…) when you can be useful once, ”said its president Philippe Bana on the sidelines of the France-Spain men's friendly match played on Thursday.

This is one of the few trips by a Ukrainian national team to France since the start of the Russian invasion.

“48 hours ago.

The Vice-President of the Ukrainian Handball Federation gives us the bad news: "It's over. There is no more money except for the war. It's dead, we don't have tickets, we will remain blocked,” said the president of the French federation.

“It's not just paying something for what we did, because they didn't come anymore.

It's a great story,” added Philippe Bana.

The Hand'solidaire foundation is born

The French will play "probably (against) the same selection" Ukrainian as in the first leg in October, where they had scrapped to win 28-25 in Sumy, Ukraine, about sixty kilometers from the border Russian.

Before challenging the Blues, the Ukrainians, second in their group behind France, already qualified, should face Croatia on April 20 in Graz, Austria, and can still win their ticket for the next Euro.

The two confrontations against the Czech Republic, scheduled for March, have been postponed due to the war in Ukraine.

A dozen players from the selection, who play for the Lviv club, have found refuge in the Czech Republic, while the majority of their teammates play abroad.

Other support operations are planned in the future, in particular through the Hand'solidaire foundation launched on Wednesday evening under the aegis of the French sports foundation, to indirectly help handball in Ukraine.

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  • Handball

  • War in Ukraine

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