Despite the ongoing invasion in Ukraine by Russia, the country’s sports minister disclosed on Monday that football matches will once again commence in Ukraine from August.
“The Ukrainian football championship will start on August 23,” Vadym Guttsait disclosed on Facebook.
“We agreed to work out… the procedure for organising and holding competitions under martial law,” he said.
Ukrainian football clubs had made a call in April to end the previous season early after it was suspended following Russia’s invasion.
Shakhtar Donetsk topped rival Dynamo Kyiv by two points in the Ukraine championship when the season was interrupted, but the league decided not to award the title.
The minister said that the matches of the new season will be held in the territory of Ukraine, but without spectators and with mandatory observance of all safety rules.
“During air raids, matches will be stopped and football players, coaches and the staff must quickly go to a shelter,” Guttsait said.
Much of Ukraine’s football infrastructure, such as stadiums and training grounds, has been damaged in Russian strikes and many foreign players have left Ukrainian teams after Moscow sent troops to Ukraine on February 24.
Earlier on Monday, Shakhtar announced that its Italian coach Roberto De Zerbi has left the club by mutual consent.
