Andriy Shevchenko slams Italian football stars for Russia trips

Andriy Shevchenko, president of the Ukrainian Football Federation, publicly condemned several former Italian football figures – notably Andrea Pirlo and Francesco Totti – for travelling to Russia and taking part in events linked to Russian sponsors. Shevchenko said, “Condanno ciò che hanno fatto. Ho espresso loro la mia posizione e la mia insoddisfazione per quello che fanno,” adding that Russia continues to kill Ukrainian children and that the war is still ongoing.

He explained that he had spoken with many of the players, noting that they understand the situation yet chose to visit Russia. The criticism comes amid debate over Pirlo’s possible appointment as Italy’s national team technical commissioner, with the Russian‑Ukraine conflict heightening scrutiny of any ties to Russian interests.