Russian football chiefs are pushing UEFA to ban Oleksandr Petrakov, the manager of Ukraine, after he voiced his desire to take up arms and defend his country.
Vladimir Putin ordered his troops to invade Ukraine in February and war continues to rage in the Eastern European nation. Unified world heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk was among the sporting figures to join the fight against the aggressors.
Speaking in April, Petrakov also vowed he would join his countrymen on the front line if Russian forces made it to the Ukrainian capital. "I thought, if they come to Kyiv, I will pick up a weapon and defend my city," he told The Guardian. "I am 64 but I felt it was normal to do this. I think I could take two or three enemies out."
