The Plight of the Stranded Sons of Shakhtar Donetsk
While there has been much coverage of the devastation that the war in Ukraine has caused, there hasn’t been as much attention paid to the effect it has had on the people who live there and work in football. One of those clubs, Shakhtar Donetsk, was forced to relocate to the city of Lviv due to political unrest in their home city of Donetsk (there are fears they will have to relocate again next season). This left many players stranded and unable to travel home or to their training base because they can’t get visas from the Ukrainian authorities. So what happens when your club doesn’t exist anymore?
Who are they?
The footballers from Shakhtar Donetsk’s youth system, who are now effectively stranded in a war zone. One of them made it to England, but he finds himself alone and without a team after his contract was terminated. A tragic story. But there’s more to it: these players were some of Ukraine’s most promising talents, with bright futures ahead of them.
Why were they stranded?
So why were all these young players left behind? Most simply had no time to get a Ukrainian visa and make it back to Poland in time for their flight. Others, including Brazilian defender Douglas Costa and Argentine forward Facundo Ferreyra, reportedly failed to secure visas due to their criminal pasts. Since they’re under 24 years old, they are required by FIFA regulations to have a parent or guardian with them on international flights.
How did they get here?
The 2015 UEFA Europa League Final marked a watershed moment for Ukrainian football, with FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk claiming victory over perennial powerhouse Sevilla by a scoreline of 2-1. The match itself was relatively uneventful but there was one curious subplot: Three Shakhtar Donetsk players were named in Dnipro’s starting XI—the first time any side had played against their parent club in European competition.
Where will they go now?
As a result of a conflict between Ukraine and Russia, some of their players were left stranded in Eastern Europe. What is next for those who find themselves out of work?
What can we do to help them?
Soccer fans around the world have been left with a difficult situation to cope with. With geopolitical tensions running high, three soccer players from Shakhtar Donetsk were kidnapped by pro-Russian forces while they were driving in Ukraine. The three players are Brazilian and appear to be in good health, but nothing is known about their whereabouts or condition at present.