On the morning of the 24th^her February was another day for Ukraine. Sirens wailed early in the morning, something terrible happened. Russia has invaded the country.

Since then, time has taken on a different meaning for the Eastern European state. The Football League, as usual, has been suspended due to the winter. The last football match took place in December. It was eventually canceled in April, but the title was not awarded.

Most of the players – mostly foreigners – left. Some took up arms and went to fight, while several stadiums were destroyed by Russian bombing.

According to the Minister of Sports, the Ukrainian football championship will resume on August 23. The date is not accidental, because it is then that Ukrainians celebrate their flag.

“It is very important to start playing football in Ukraine,” said Sports Minister Vadim Guchait. “We must continue to compete and rejoice, fight and win. Ukrainian sport will win on all fronts and cannot stop its development,” the politician added.

But how will football be played in a country that is still at war?

The competent authorities have already developed a plan for the safest possible return to the stadiums. Initially, all matches will be played without spectators and will be held in the Kyiv region and western Ukraine.

It should be noted that Shakhtar, which will play in the Champions League groups, will play their home matches at the tournament in Warsaw. Dynamo Kyiv holds qualifying matches in Lodz, Poland.

⚡️Consequences of the “Russian world”, the Olympic Sports Training Center (Yuri Gagarin Stadium) in Chernihiv. Home of the Ukrainian women’s football team and Desna Chernihiv. It accommodated 12,060 spectators, 5,500 individual plastic seats.#StopWithUkraine #Stop the war #StopRussia pic.twitter.com/nPU8ROhcqB

— UATV English (@UATV_en) March 11, 2022

Each stadium where the games will be held must have a bomb shelter. For the match to be coordinated with the military administration of each region.

There is anticipation even if the attack is done during the match. “During airstrikes, the fighting will be interrupted. Players, coaches and all match officials must quickly move to the shelter, ”said the sports minister.

It has not yet been finally determined how many teams will take part in the new league. The desire of the leaders is to hold a championship of 16 teams. The Mariupol team will not take part, as well as Desna Chernihiv, which played in the Europa League qualifying matches in the 2020-2021 season.

After the invasion, several foreign football players left in search of a safe place for themselves and their families. FIFA then allowed foreign players playing in Ukraine and Russia to sign contracts without waiting for the official transfer window. In the new league, which starts in a few days, there will be very few foreign players in the teams.

“Holding football matches during the war is not only a sport,” said Andriy Pavelko, president of the Football Federation of Ukraine. “This is to show the courage of our people, the indomitable spirit and the desire for inevitable victory. This is a unique initiative in world history: football against war, in war, football for peace.”

18 foreign players returned to their Ukrainian 🇺🇦 clubs and together with their teams are preparing for the new season 👏

Vorskla leads with 6 legionnaires (+2 NEW acquisitions)

Dynamo and Rukh with 2

Shakhtar, Zorya, Minaj, SO, Dnepr-1, Veres, Kolos, KKR – 1 each

📸: Football of Ukraine pic.twitter.com/l9lVRiZXDT

— Zorya Londonsk (@ZoryaLondonsk) July 17, 2022

The emotions of the players are mixed. There is excitement about returning to the playing fields, but also fear because of the military situation. “Everyone wants to play, this is what we love, this is our life,” the top 6 player admitted to The Guardian. “When the hype subsides and logic prevails, you understand that it is not safe and no one gives guarantees, unless we perform outside of Ukraine. Then it becomes unclear how it will all work, ”the football player added.

For most teams, getting back on the playing field was a matter of vital importance. “We cannot afford to lose even one year. This will cause great damage to Ukrainian football,” Veres general manager Anton Nazaruk commented to the Guardian. “One year is equal to ten years of growth. Our duty is to unite our people in these difficult times and keep the sport alive. Life goes on: we want peace and we play for peace.”

According to Eurosport, Guardian