(London) “I have a question for the players of the Russian national team: guys, why are you guys sitting like idiots… and not saying anything? Ukrainian footballer Andriy Yarmolenko virulently challenged his Russian counterparts on Instagram.
Posted at 9:54 a.m.
The West Ham winger, who has 107 caps and 44 goals for Ukraine, posted a video on his Instagram account on Tuesday evening in which he blames Russian players for their silence and inaction.
“In my country, they kill people, women, mothers, our children. But you don’t say anything, you don’t make any comments… ” castigates the 32-year-old player.
“I know a lot of you, you all told me it shouldn’t be like this, that your president is acting incorrectly…” he continues.
“So guys, you have influence over people, show them, I beg of you…Now is the time to show your necks…in real life,” Yarmolenko urges.
Very affected, the Ukrainian winger had been put to rest for a few days by his club West Ham following the invasion of his country by Russia.
“I spoke to him and he was upset. We just hope that his family will be safe, ”explained his trainer, David Moyes, on February 25, the day after the outbreak of the Russian military intervention in Ukraine.
Yarmolenko was born in Russia to Ukrainian parents, who returned to their country as a child.