Rebellious Dariho Sulna tells the truth about Shakta when FIFA is accused of failing the Ukrainian war

It's easy to see why Darijo Srna is known as the "Shakhtar Donetsk Icon". Few players are synonymous with clubs of the century, as the former fullback was like the Ukrainian giant.

In his illustrious 15 years of play with Shakhtar, Croat won 27 trophies. His club records include a captain to win the 2009 UEFA Cup. Major European Club Tournaments – Man of the Match Performance.

Srna refused the opportunity to joinChelseaand Bayern Munich during his glittering club career and stayed true to his adoption club in Donetsk. I chose to stay with. After being forcibly moved from his home city in 2014 due to a war betweenUkraineand Russian-backed separatists in the Donbus region, he was in Shakhtar. Sticked to. Eight years later, Srna is the club's football director, asRussiaexacerbated the situation with a total invasion of the country.

Speaking with the passion and eloquence that marked his career, 40 years old I do not believe he or Shakhtar Donetsk was given a platform to share the truth.

SoMirror Footballopened the floor for him to talk about him.

Srna makes a bright tone and is a symbol of football in Ukraine's domestic football, which is expected to resume in time for Ukraine's Independence Day on August 24, after a six-month forced closure. He emphasized how sex can play a role for the country.

Srna, who grew up in the background of the Balkan Wars in the former Yugoslavia, explained: I am. During the war, they again organized the Croatian League and started playing games.

"Soccer is what connects people and Ukraine is a sport-loving country. We know that we are still alive and fighting on the pitch for Ukraine all over the world. I'm going to show you, like the soldiers on the front lines, we have an obligation to Ukraine, it's to play football. "

And Shaftal isn't just playing domestically. .. For the 12th time in the last 13 campaigns, the club will be in theChampions Leaguegroup stage.

"We are very proud that Srnazar will be Ukraine's leading club on the Champions League group stage," Srna continues. "Shakhtar is the only club in the history of football that has experienced this situation. Russia took us home in 2014 and this year they kicked us out of Ukraine.

"But we are still alive and it is an honor for us to represent Ukraine on the group stage of the Champions League."

This is far more important than football. "In the last 17 seasons, we have played in the Champions League in that 16 years. We have lost 14 of the non-Ukraine players, but we are still alive. We have teamed up and for Ukraine Fight as a team. We know we are playing for our people and our country, so we are going to take part in this tournament with amazing motivation.

"This is our small but important victory. We were taken home twice but still alive. We are still in the Champions League and are in the tournament. There are no Russian clubs.

"I don't want to mix sports and politics, but unfortunately this time the Russian clubs are unable to compete in European competitions due to the current situation. I agree. Ukrainian athletes do nothing to suffer from this, but it is Russia that is the invader and terrorist. Russia is killing our children and our friends, They are killing our citizens.

"I have been in Shakhtar since 2003. I have teammates from 25 countries but have problems in Doneck and Ukraine. I didn't have any teammates. The people here were so friendly that it didn't matter what nationality or race they were.

"The people of Donetsk are like my family. They are me. I opened the door of their house for, and today I'm proud to stand beside them and fight for Ukraine. "

In 2009, a few months after Srna captained Shaftal and succeeded in the UEFA Cup, the club Announced state.-State-of-the-art Donbus Arena.

The symbol held on the holiday of Ukrainian miners' day was due to the connection between the Donbus area and coal mining. The word Shakhtar means "miner", and the orange and black color scheme of the club means that the miner leaves the darkness. A pit for light at the end of the day. The club badge consists of a flame and a pair of crossed hammers.

The stadium was funded by Shakhtar's Billionaire President Rinat Akhmetov, who took over Leksand Dorbragin in 1996. Coal Miner – Takes control of the club. Ahmetov's purpose was to combine the club's identity with heavy spending drives on and off the pitch, making the industrial city of Eastern Europe an attractive hotspot for elite sports talent.

Akhmetov is the club's best with Dynamo Kyiv winning nine straight games. It became a high peak. The title of the UkrainianPremier League, Shakhtar won 13 of the 19 league titles offered between 2002 and 2020 with European exploits, and this century's national cup tournament. His club's support showed a change in power as he scored 20 in.

Still, Shakhtar's hegemony was threatened when the war in Donbus expelled the club from his hometown of Donetsk. The team has moved to Lviv (2014-17), Kharkiv (2017-20) and Kyiv (2020-). Despite this adversity, the club has won 11 trophies in the eight years since then. As Srna explains, "All our winning ideas come from the club president. He is a man who always plays great football and is determined to win the game."

Ahmetov assured that the 52,000-capacity Donbus Arena would serve as the center of humanitarian aid in Donetsk during the conflict, but the stadium was damaged as a result of several shots and in 2017 Ahmetov's The Foundation, which was suspended as humanitarian aid, reported that rebel groups blocked access to the stadium.

Srna could not fully talk about Akhmetov's role during the conflict involving the region and the country. All of his company helps the country every day.

"He has different homes all over the world and he can go and live wherever he wants, but he stays in Ukraine and helps his people and the army. This difficult situation. In, he is happy to be here as he shares his wealth with the Ukrainian people. He has survived the crisis since 2014. I am very proud of him. For a moment. "

Srna added that football itself needs to do more to support the Ukrainian football club. Unless a mutual agreement is found between the player / coach and the club by June 30th of this year, 2023 ". The decision was at the mercy of transferring bargaining power from Ukrainian clubs and absorbing significant economic losses in addition to the current plight.

Srna goes on to say: increase. This time.

"Many people say they support Ukraine, but they don't. For example, FIFA does not protect Ukraine football and players like UEFA do. We are trying to compromise in some way in this difficult situation, otherwise we will lose many of the players we have invested in for free.

"FIFA is It is necessary to understand that all players must be protected from Ukraine. This is their duty in this war. You have to find a way to find a compromise, otherwise it will be difficult and court You may have to go to.

"We fight for the club because we want to be respected. We are the best club in Eastern Europe and for this image and respect Others have helped us. UEFA President Alexander Cheferin has helped us survive, but FIFA has not done this. They do not. As long as we go to court. "

Still, Srna Remained rebellious. Now is the time to survive, be like a family, and make something good for people. We do not disappoint fans or Ukraine. Everything we do is for them. When asked if Srna was realistic about the ongoing conflict and hoped that Shakhtar could one day return to his hometown of Donetsk, he added: I did. The percentage of war ends with negotiations at the table.

"It is hoped that we will find a way to stop the war and bring people home to sleep in bed as soon as possible. Most importantly, stop the war and sin in Ukraine. To stop killing those who aren't.

"We want and believe in Ukraine's victory. For me, the Ukrainians are already winners and 120 in the fight against Russia. I've endured this for days. "

And what is Srna's message to the football world? "The message is very simple. Poland is like a brother country of Ukraine, so I play Champions League football in Warsaw.

" They took many Ukrainians to their country and I This was a small respect for them and brought the Champions League to their country as they did so much for us. We fight for all the games to the end. For everyone, we want you to pray for Ukraine, stop the war and enjoy every moment of your life. "

Srna and Shakhtar Donestk Although they have endured adversity, they are still in the midst of their greatest challenges. Soccer is far from the most important victim of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but the image and importance of its return is strong.

As Srna summarized, "We have a duty to Ukraine, that is to play football."

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