Defiant Ukraine boss Oleksandr Petrakov insists he stands by every word after he was fined for vowing to take up arms in his country’s war with Russia.
The veteran boss was hit in the pocket as he prepared his side for their crucial Nations League clash with Scotland at Hampden. Russia football chiefs - who were booted out of EURO 2024 yesterday - had wanted Petrakov banned and accused him of breaking the governing body’s code of conduct by discriminating against them and failing to remain politically neutral.
But Ukrainian chiefs - who stumped up on behalf of their manager - accused the Russians of trying to sabotage their preparations for Hampden. Passionate Petrakov, 65, revealed he’d been turned down by the Ukraine army in the build-up to his country’s World Cup qualifier against Scotland in June. That came after he had vowed to “pick up a weapon and defend my city” if Russia invaded Kiev back in April.
