- Title: Ukraine fans from all over the world travel to see World Cup sem-final play off
- Date: 1st June 2022
- Summary: GLASGOW, SCOTLAND, UK (JUNE 1, 2022) (REUTERS) UKRAINIAN FANS SING, HOLDING AN EDINBURGH UKRAINIANS UKRAINE FLAG UKRAINE FANS WALK IN GLASGOW CENTRAL STREET WITH FLAG (SOUNDBITE) (English) UKRAINIAN MARK TEMNYCKY (RIGHT), WHO FLEW OVER FROM NEW YORK FOR THE MATCH: “So we’re from New York in the United States, we’re Ukrainian and we’re very excited for this match. At a time when the war is happening it’s managed to unite Ukrainians not only just in Ukraine but all over the world and we’ve come to support our boys play today and we expect a nice performance today.†VARIOUS OF UKRAINIAN FANS SING, HOLDING AN 'EDINBURGH UKRAINIANS' UKRAINE FLAG (SOUNDBITE) (English) UKRAINIAN ADRIAN TEMNYCKY (LEFT), BROTHER OF MARK (RIGHT), WHO ALSO FLEW FROM NEW YORK FOR THE GAME: “So we have still family there in Western Ukraine and talking to people all the time, my uncle’s actually fighting on the front lines, we talk to them all the time. They’ll all be cheering for this any way they can, whether it’s on the radio or the TV, whatever. Just because of how big this match is not only to qualify for a World Cup but just to bring attention and awareness to Ukraine and the people and the effort so it’ll be great.†UKRAINE FLAG NEXT TO SCOTTISH POWERS AND SCOTLAND SCARFS UKRAINIAN’S POSE WITH THEIR FLAG (SOUNDBITE) (English) SERGEY BUDKIN, WHO TRAVELLED FROM AUSTRALIA FOR THE MATCH TO SUPPORT UKRAINE: “You look around, it’s interesting because I travelled from Australia, well I travelled from Australia to Vienna, to London and I’m here now. I really am touched with the kind of support everywhere.†UKRAINIAN SUPPORTER WITH ‘STOP WAR’ T-SHIRT (SOUNDBITE) (English) UKRAINIAN VITALY MITNINKSI: “As much emotion as we’re going through this is nothing compared to what people in Ukraine. We are here for them. Every time in the bar here the Scottish people want to pay for me. I tell them I can pay for myself, help those people.†STAND AND SELLER WITH UKRAINE AND SCOTLAND SCARFS AND FLAGS (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) YEVHENIIA CHERNIKOVA, WHO MOVED TO THE UK FROM UKRAINE ONE MONTH AGO: “A victory would mean a lot for us because it would be one of our many victories. But the most important thing is victory in the war.†SCOTLAND FANS SITTING OUTSIDE AT BAR IN GLASGOW (SOUNDBITE) (English) SCOTLAND FAN STEVEN MACBRIDE SAYING: “We really feel for them and we’re behind them 100 per cent but as soon as the boys cross that white line it’s all about Scotland and it’s all about what we want and we want to get to the World Cup just like they do. So we’re behind them 100 per cent but when the whistle blows it’s all about us and what we want to do and 100 per cent behind Scotland.†SCOTLAND CREST ON FOOTBALL SHIRT (SOUNDBITE) (English) SCOTTISH FAN IAN ARMSTRONG SAYING: “I think there’ll be a real camaraderie and togetherness before the game in terms of the anthems and we’ll try and sing with the phonetic translation the Ukrainian anthem so there’ll be a big togetherness but once the whistle goes, it's football, we want to win.†SCOTTISH FAN DRESSED IN KILT (SOUNDBITE) (English) SCOTTISH FAN SANDY WILLISON SAYING: “Everybody is so full of love for Ukraine at the moment. The whole Putin Russia invasion thing is horrific, it’s beyond horrific in fact. So we always want to see the best for Ukraine, however, we want to win.†SCOTLAND FANS IN BAR OUTSIDE FAN CARRYING SCOTTISH FLAG UKRAINE FLAG NEXT TO SCOTTISH POWER
- Embargoed: 15th June 2022 17:03
- Keywords: Glasgow Scotland Ukraine World Cup play-off
- Location: GLASGOW, SCOTLAND, UK
- City: GLASGOW, SCOTLAND, UK
- Country: UK
- Topics: Europe,Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA001206401062022RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Decked out in blue and yellow shirts and flags, Ukrainians from around the world have arrived in Glasgow to support their country's national team in their World Cup qualifier against Scotland on Wednesday (June 1).
While at first glance, the gatherings in pubs and bars looked like the build up to any other international match, inevitably the mood is tempered by constant reminders of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
"As much emotion as we're going through this is nothing compared to what people in Ukraine. We are here for them,†said Vitaly Mitninsky, who had flown from his home in New York.
The match was originally scheduled for March but was postponed following the Russian invasion, which Moscow calls a 'special operation'.
The winner of the game at Hampden Park will face Wales in the final playoff in Cardiff on Sunday with a place at the World Cup in Qatar in November at stake.
Organisers had been expecting U.K.-based Ukrainian fans to travel to the match but in the bars in the centre of the city it was clear that many had also arrived from much further afield.
Ukrainian supporters from Australia, the United States, Germany and Israel were among those enjoying a drink before the game with no shortage of handshakes -- and drinks -- offered from friendly Scotland fans.
"In the bar here the Scottish people want to pay for me. I tell them I can pay for myself, help those people," said Mitninsky.
With so much sympathy and support for Ukraine, Scotland fans find themselves in the awkward position of hoping their team can end any hopes the Ukrainians have of reaching the World Cup.
Home fans are being encouraged to sing along to the Ukrainian national anthem, with phonetic lyric sheets being provided to the 'Tartan Army' supporters.
But for fans like Steven McBride, the support for Ukraine then has to be put on hold for 90 minutes.
"We're behind them 100 per cent but when the whistle blows it's all about us and what we want to do and 100 per cent behind Scotland." he said.
(Production: Sophie Penney/Stuart McDill) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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