UEFA has told Ukraine to remove the slogan that adorns the inside of their Euro 2020 shirt.
The nation unveiled their shirt for the competition last week, leading to outrage in Russia.
That was because the shirt features a map of Ukraine, including the Crimean peninsula which Russia annexed from Ukraine back in 2014 and considers a part of its territory. Crimea remains internationally recognised as part of Ukraine.
The shirt also contains the slogan ‘Glory to Ukraine!” on the back of the shirt, and the phrase ‘Glory to the heroes’ inside.
UEFA said the map was not a concern given that it reflected UN-recognised borders, nor was the ‘Glory to Ukraine!’ slogan.
However, they have stated that the ‘Glory to the heroes’ slogan must be removed. In a statement, UEFA said the “specific combination of the two slogans is deemed to be clearly political in nature, having historic and militaristic significance”.
The phrases ‘Glory to Ukraine!’ and ‘Glory to the heroes’ are used as the official greeting within the Ukrainian army.
Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called the shirt an “agonizing artistic liberty” earlier this week.
Ukraine, managed by their all-time record goalscorer Andriy Shevchenko, take on the Netherlands in their opening Euro 2020 group game on June 13.
They then take on North Macedonia on June 17 in Bucharest. Their group campaign concludes against Austria on June 21, with the game also played in Bucharest.
Russia, meanwhile, will take on Belgium in Saint Petersburg on June 12. They play at the same venue when they face Finland on June 16, before their group campaign concludes against Denmark in Copenhagen on June 21.
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