Shakhtar Donetsk director of football Darijo Srna has revealed that Nottingham Forest and Olympiacos owner Evangelos Marinakis offered to put up the touring Ukrainian side in Greece for almost two months after the two clubs contested a friendly over the weekend.
The 13-time Ukrainian Premier League winners were playing for the first time since Russia's full-scale invasion two months ago in a "Stop War" friendly at the Greek champions' Karaiskakis Stadium. Domestic competition has been suspended in the country since the significant escalation of the conflict in late February.
That meeting was the first stop in a "Global Tour for Peace" that also features friendlies against Lechia Gdansk, Fenerbahce, and Hajduk Split between now and the start of May. A goal from Tiquinho separated the sides on the pitch in front of 5,000 supports as £85,000 was raised from gate receipts, which will go to humanitarian and aid concerns.
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Speaking after the match, Srna revealed the "big respect" felt towards Marinakis. "I spoke with the owner of Olympiacos and his son only two days before and we agreed to play the game," Srna said, via the Daily Mail. "All the money is being sent to Ukraine, so I have big respect for the owner.
"He even proposed that we stay here for two months, he will pay for everything, he will give the pitch to us. Lots of presidents and owners are using the situation to receive players for free, but he is not doing that."
Srna alludes to the likes of Lyon acquiring Shakhtar's Brazilian winger Tete on loan for the rest of the season late last month. As many as 10 players have also either departed on free transfers or temporary arrangements this season.
Marinakis has owned the Greek giants since 2010 and bought Forest seven years later. Son Miltiadis was watching on at the City Ground as Steve Cooper 's side defeated Birmingham City 2-0 on Saturday afternoon.
