Official Statement by FC Dynamo Kyiv Regarding the Display of a Russian Flag by PAOK Supporters During the UEFA Europa League Match
Following the incident that occurred during the UEFA Europa League match between Dynamo Kyiv and PAOK on 23 July in Lublin, the club is issuing the following public statement.
The first leg of the UEFA Europa League second qualifying round between FC Dynamo Kyiv and PAOK FC (Thessaloniki) was marred by provocative actions from a group of the Greek club's supporters, who displayed the flag of the Russian Federation in their section of the stadium during the match.
While bringing this matter to the attention of the relevant disciplinary bodies of UEFA, we also wish to address those in the stands who, regrettably, may not fully comprehend the horrors that the Ukrainian people continue to endure as a result of Russia's full-scale war against our country.
Every day, Ukraine loses its finest sons and daughters in the brutal fight against a ruthless aggressor. Every day, our cities and villages are subjected to terrorist missile and drone attacks that devastate families and claim the lives of innocent civilians, including children. These atrocities are committed under the very same tricolour that certain PAOK supporters chose to wave while attending a football match.
It is telling that even players of the Greek club, fully aware of the shamefulness of their supporters' actions, appealed to them to remove the Russian symbols from the stands.
At FC Dynamo Kyiv, like all our fellow Ukrainians, we believe in a world built on peace, democracy, and the universal values of human dignity and morality. We firmly believe that football should serve as a force that unites countries and peoples committed to mutual respect and civilized relations, and we will continue to promote these principles.
It hardly needs to be recalled that, following Russia's military aggression against Ukraine, UEFA suspended all Russian clubs from participating in its competitions. Ahead of the return leg between PAOK and Dynamo Kyiv, we call on the governing bodies of European football to demonstrate the same consistency and principled approach they rightly apply in combating racism and xenophobia by taking a clear stance on these deliberate provocations directed at both our club and our country, and by ensuring that such incidents are not repeated.
