Two Ukrainian footballers who opted to take up arms and defend their nation have been killed in a new step in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Vitalii Sapylo, 21, and Dmytro Martynenko, 25, have been identified as the two suspects. FIFPRO, the world’s footballers’ union, has also confirmed the news.
Martynenko last played for second-division side FC Hostomel, while Sapylo was a goalie for Karpaty Lviv’s junior team.
FIFPRO said in a statement on Twitter. “Our thoughts are with the families, friends, and teammates of young Ukrainian footballers Vitalii Sapylo and Dmytro Martynenko, football’s first reported losses in this war. May they both rest in peace. ”
Speaking to BBC Radio 5Live, FIFPRO general secretary Jonas Baer-Hoffman said: “We’ve had confirmation from the ground, which is, of course, incredibly sad.
“We don’t have clear information on how many of our members are currently involved directly in the conflict, and of course, there are still hundreds of Ukrainian players, male and female, in the country.
“Our union on the ground is effectively working out of bunkers and cellars where they are hiding from the attacks, so it’s a very difficult situation to analyze.”
“These two players have apparently passed away, as part of this military invasion. They’re showing how football and sports, in general, is an afterthought because they’re just individuals who unfortunately got caught up in this terrible war.”
Our thoughts are with the families, friends, and teammates of young Ukrainian footballers Vitalii Sapylo (21) and Dmytro Martynenko (25), football’s first reported losses in this war.
— FIFPRO (@FIFPRO) March 1, 2022
May they both rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/f6l9oHHRMr
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