According to The Guardian, RFU deputy general secretary Denis Rogachev accused 65-year-old Petrakov of breaching ethical codes by calling for Russia to be banned from international competitions. The union also accused him of discriminating against Russians after the Ukrainian coach said earlier in the spring that he was ready to fight against hostile forces in his country.
“I thought that if they came to Kiev, I would take up a gun and defend my city. I think I could take out two or three enemies,” said Petrakov, who wanted to join the territorial defense unit but was told he didn’t meet the criteria due to his age and lack of physical condition.
Russia is urging UEFA to ban Oleksandr Petrakov, the manager of Ukraine men’s national team after he expressed a wish to fight Russian forces.
The Football Union of Russia has written to the governing body accused Petrakov for “failing to remain politically neutral.”
— Fuad Alakbarov (@DrAlakbarov) September 19, 2022
“The statements of the head coach of the Ukrainian national football team, Oleksandr Petrakov, are made against the background of the political conflict between the two countries – Russia and Ukraine – and represent a political message that clearly violates the basic principle of political neutrality,” Rogachev wrote in the letter.
Russia accuses Petrakov of discriminating against their country and not fulfilling his responsibility to remain politically impartial.
— Jacque Talbot (@jac_talbot) September 19, 2022
However, the Ukrainian Football Association (UFA) stands by its coach. “When his country was attacked by non-humans, he was ready to defend his country, women and children,” said the UFA spokesperson. According to him, Petrakov’s statement testifies to his devotion to the motherland and patriotism. “What kind of discrimination can we talk about in relation to a nation that deliberately commits genocide on another nation?” he asks.
A UEFA spokesman did not say anything specific about the situation. “We cannot comment on individual cases. When complaints are received, they are handled in accordance with the provisions of the disciplinary code. We have no further information to provide you at this stage,” he said.
