Two Ukrainian footballers have been killed during the Russian invasion of their homeland.
Vitalii Sapylo, a 21-year-old youth-team player with second division Karpaty Lviv, lost his life during a battle near Kiev after joining the army as a tank commander.
And Dmytro Martynenko, 25, an amateur player with regional club FC Gostomel, perished alongside his mother when their apartment block close to the Ukranian capital was bombed by Russian forces.
A FIFPRO statement said: “Our thoughts are with the families, friends and team-mates of young Ukrainian footballers Vitalii Sapylo and Dmytro Martynenko, football’s first reported losses in this war. May they both rest in peace.”
Karpaty Lviv described Sapylo as a “hero” after announcing that he had been killed in action on the battlefield.
A club statement confirmed that he died last Friday. It added: “We cherish the eternal memory of this hero.”
Source : Mirror.co.uk
