The Ukrainian football championship starts with mandatory shelters

"The new season presents many logistical challenges and there is also the risk of missile attacks, so all stadiums must have shelters," said Andriy Pavelko, president of the Ukrainian federation. He added that every time the air defense siren sounds - which is a daily occurrence in most regions - the match is interrupted and all participants in the meeting have to go to the shelter.

Some footballers, such as Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Taras Stepanenko, have expressed concern about how they keep their muscles warm during long forced breaks. According to his suggestion, a few exercise bikes should be set up in every shelter.

Military officials will be present at every match, and if the air raid warning lasts more than an hour, they will discuss with the referee whether to wait longer or postpone the match.

The first match of the new season will be played between Sahtar Donetsk and Metalliszt Kharkiv on Tuesday, starting at 12 noon Hungarian time. There are 16 teams in the field, but Deszna Chernihiv and FC Mariupol cannot start this time because their stadiums were destroyed during the fighting. The future of the latter club was also in jeopardy after the Russians captured the city after a three-month siege and killed more than 20,000 residents, according to the Ukrainians.

Due to the threat of bombings, the matches will be played without spectators, initially only in and around Kiev and in two areas close to the western border, although this may change later.

Last season ended on February 24, when Sakhtar Donetsk led the table, and is considered a contender in the new season, although according to the Croatian head coach, Igor Jovicevic, the squad is no longer made up of Brazilian legionnaires, but young, domestic football players.

(Source: Source: sportrajongo.hu, mti/Photo: pixabay, mti)