The Ukraine national team defender Alexander Karavaev, who plays for Dynamo Kyiv, condemned the Turkish fans who attended a Fenerbahçe versus Dynamo Kyiv Champions League qualifier wearing masks depicting Russian President Vladimir Putin.
He emphasized that fans should show humanity in their actions. He noted that no one can truly understand another person’s experiences, so guessing someone’s motive is misguided.
Karavaev added that if confronted by heated fans, the best approach is to remain calm and, if provoked, respond in a measured and meaningful way while avoiding escalation.
Earlier, on July 27, Fenerbahçe supporters chanted Putin’s name during a match against Dynamo, which led to sanctions from the Union of European Football Associations. UEFA fined the Turkish club and ordered the partial closure of its stadium for an international fixture.
Following the two-legged tie, Dynamo Kyiv advanced to the third qualifying round of the Champions League but did not reach the tournament’s group stage.
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