Football above War: Ukraine football team to travel to Cyprus for their friendly against USA

Protesters outside the Russian Consulate on Bloor Street East demonstrate against the ongoing Russian involvement in Crimea.

The Ukraine Football Federation has confirmed that they will be sending their national squad to Cyprus for their International friendly against the United States of America amidst their unstable political situation.

A statement released by the USA Football Federation says: “We have been in contact with the Football Federation of Ukraine and are awaiting final confirmation that the team is still planning to travel to Cyprus for the match.”

The friendly is scheduled to take place in Cyprus on March 5, however there were speculations that the Ukraine Football Federation were close to cancel the friendly following Russia’s military intervention in the Crimea region of Ukraine.

“We cannot hold the national championship so what kind of football can we talk of at all?” Ukraine’s National Football Federation President Anatoliy Konkov told the ICTV channel. “If we do not have an opportunity to play on home soil, why shall we go to Cyprus in those troubled times for your country?

“We play for our people and country. Our team do not fly to Cyprus and stay at home,” he added.

On #USAvUKR: “The Football Federation of Ukraine confirmed that their team will travel to Cyprus and the match will proceed as scheduled.”

— U.S. Soccer (@ussoccer) March 4, 2014