Official statement of FC "Dynamo" Kyiv
Official statement of FC Dynamo Kyiv regarding the demonstration of the Russian flag by PAOK fans at the Europa League match
Due to the incident that took place during the Europa League match between Dynamo and PAOK on July 23 in Lublin, the Kyiv club is making an open statement.
The first leg of the UEFA Europa League 2nd qualifying round match between Kyiv's Dynamo and PAOK (Thessaloniki) was marked by provocations from the fans of the Greek team, who raised the flag of the Russian Federation in their sector during the game.
Highlighting this fact to the relevant disciplinary bodies of the European Football Association, we also appeal to those people in the stands who, unfortunately, do not fully realize all the horrors that the Ukrainian people are currently experiencing due to the full-scale war unleashed by Russia.
Every day, in the bloody confrontation with the treacherous enemy, the best sons and daughters of Ukraine are dying. Every day, our cities and villages are subjected to terrorist bombings, maiming the lives of many families and taking the lives of innocent civilians, including children. These and other atrocities are committed under the same tricolor flag that PAOK fans decided to use to express their emotions during the football match.
It is telling that even the players of the Greek club, understanding the disgracefulness of their fans' actions, appealed to them to remove the Russian symbolism.
We at Dynamo Kyiv, like all our compatriots, want peaceful coexistence in a world where the norms of democracy, principles, and values of universal morality prevail. We emphasize that football should be an instrument of bringing countries and peoples together who strive for civilized relations, and we promote such an approach in every way.
Obviously, it is unnecessary to remind of UEFA's position, which, since the beginning of Russian aggression in Ukraine, has suspended all Russian teams from participating in continental competitions. On the eve of the return match between PAOK and Dynamo Kyiv, we urge the responsible persons of the highest football institution of the Old World to demonstrate the same principled and consistent approach they show towards manifestations of racism and xenophobia, to give their assessment of the blatant provocations against our club and our country, in order to prevent the recurrence of such provocations.
