Bayern Munich striker, Robert Lewandowski, has pleaded for solidarity with Ukraine amid Russia’s invasion of the country.
Russia had on Thursday invaded Ukraine after weeks of rising political tensions in the region and the conflict escalated on Friday, with the fighting reaching the capital city of Kyiv.
On Friday, Bayern Munich lit their stadium up in the blue and yellow colours of the Ukrainian flag, with coach Julian Nagelsmann expressing his shock at the invasion.
“Everything beautiful in sports is against what war brings,” Lewandowski, who is from Poland, posted on his official social media channels.
“For all people who value freedom and peace, this is a time of solidarity with the victims of military aggression in Ukraine.”
The Polish football association, along with their counterparts from Sweden and the Czech Republic, had requested that Russia be barred from hosting any upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
The four nations are in the same play-off pathway for Qatar 2022 with Russia set to host Poland in March.
Lewandowski, who is Poland’s captain, said;
“As the captain of the national team, I will talk to my colleagues from the team about the match with Russia in order to work out a common position on this matter and present it to the president of the Polish Football Association as soon as possible,”