Russia and Ukraine have been at war since 2022, with Paris Saint-Germain’s summer business leaving the European champions on the other side of the conflict with teammates
Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Matt Sa Safnov offered no response after saying his new colleague Ilya Zabarni supports the isolation of Safnov’s country of Russia from world football. Zabarnyi has accused Russia of “destroying” his country of Ukraine’s “liberty and independence” since invading the country in 2022.
Zabariny, an international Ukrainian who joined the PSG on a £57 million trip from Bournemouth at the beginning of the summer, has been speaking out in past Russian-Ukraine conflicts. Joining the club side with the Russians hasn’t changed things. He laid out the place where he was standing again.
“In my country, a full-scale war has been raging for four years,” Zabarnyi told Football360 (via Goal). “The Russians are invaders who are trying to waste their freedom and independence in Ukraine.
“I have not maintained personal relationships with Russians. I have to interact with (Sahunov) at a professional level during my training and fulfill my duties to the club. However, as long as the war continues, I fully support the isolation of Russian football in the world.”
Sakhnov was asked by the Russian Outlet Sports Express if he would like to comment on the situation between him and Zabarini. But he simply said, “I won’t.”
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Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the country has been banned from UEFA competitions. Poland, their 2022 World Cup playoff opponent, was ultimately given goodbye, and the Russian ban remains for the Euro 2024 and 2026 World Cup qualifying campaigns.
Without competitive football, they have been playing friendly games over the last few years. Sahunov is part of a team that will face Jordan and Qatar during a break in September, with the 26-year-old captain captaining the side during a draw with Nigeria in June.
The side of the Russian club is also prohibited from UEFA club competitions. All but three members of the current national team include Sakhnov and Alexander Gorobin of Monaco and Alexei Milanchuk, who plays club football in Russia and plays in Atlanta United and in the US.
Zabarni, who missed the knockout stage slightly in Ukraine’s Euro 2024 campaign, spoke about the effects of the war. “You all know the times we are going through now. I feel incredibly responsible for my actions. It’s hard to say the right words when you realize how difficult it is to be there,” the centreback said.
“I would like to thank everyone who lets us play because it is important not only for Ukrainian football but for life,” he continued.
“Our country wakes up to the alarm every day and it’s very difficult to think about it. Children, women, just civilians, many people die every day, and it has to stop.
“I have to thank the warriors who protect our country. They are courageous and incredible people, and I am very grateful to them. It is very important to me to think about them.
“When you wake up, you think about what happened to your friends and what you cherished at home near you. You can want them to be safe. Of course, it can put pressure on us all, but it adds a great incentive to come on the pitch and do everything possible to win.”
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