Disturbing incidents of racism by Ukrainian sports fans have resurfaced on social media in the wake of Russia's illegal invasion of its neighbor.
While Russia has cynically invoked the growing threat of neo-Nazism in Ukraine to justify its incursion, at least a few headlines in recent years do indeed confirm overtly racist and bigoted behavior from Ukrainians at sporting events -- and even league-adjacent officials.
In June 2020, fans at a Ukrainian Premier League playoff game in Manai unfurled a banner in support of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer who was found guilty in the murder of George Floyd.
Floyd's murder and the subsequent trial of Chauvin of course drew international attention -- but mostly it was in support of Floyd and the nationwide protests that broke out across the US.
Perhaps more disturbingly, in the wake of a 2015 attack by a white mob on four Black soccer fans at the stadium of Kyiv-based FC Dynamo, the director of the arena suggested segregating spectators by race "in order to avoid racism."
Per The Washington Post:
“We are trying, maybe, to make a separate sector in order to avoid racism,” Volodimir Spilchenko said.
Spilchenko called it a “good idea” and said, “We’ll probably listen to your offer.”
The team was investigated and punished by UEFA over the incident, and Spilchenko later backed off the idea of segregating fans, reports said.Kyiv was also found guilty of racism toward fans in a separate incident earlier in 2015, according to The Guardian.
Later, in 2019, Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Taison, a native of Brazil, was sent off the field at his home stadium when he responded to racist taunts from visiting Kyiv fans by flipping them the middle finger and booting the ball into the stands. Dynamo fans also reportedly flashed signs that said "Like to racism," in apparent mockery of an anti-racism campaign launched by the team.
While many western sports journalists have championed displays of solidarity for Ukraine and breathlessly reported condemnations of Russia by athletes of all nationalities, there's been little mention of the disturbing incidents in Ukraine.
Russian athletes meanwhile have been stripped of sponsorships and made to answer for the actions of the Russian government, while several Russian teams have been banned from international competition, including by UEFA and FIFA.
While racist fan behavior is unfortunately a transnational phenomenon, the seemingly rabid racism of Ukrainian sports fans appears to comport with news reports from the chaotic scramble of civilians attempting to flee the country amid Russia's invasion.
Countless people of color -- including students from India and several different African nations -- have told western outlets that they were prevented from boarding trains and planes in favor of white Ukrainians.
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign Up and Follow Audacy Sports
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram