UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has revealed he spent 48 hours on the phone to Ukrainian players amid the Russian invasion.
Ceferin approached in-need footballers who were trapped in Ukraine as they attempted to flee with their families.
The news comes amid his counterpart at FIFA, Gianni Infantino, standing accused of still not breaking his silence on the conflict.
Players from Shakhtar Donetsk and Dynamo Kyiv were in the party to whom the UEFA chief reached out, and have now visited him at his home in Slovenia.
A number of players for the Ukraine national team are preparing for war as the country's Premier League is suspended.
Amid the league suspension, Scotland 's crucial World Cup playoff at Hampden is in limbo with Steve Clarke set to name his squad in the coming days.
Speaking at the Financial Times Business of Football Summit, Ceferin said: "Nobody expected that the war can happen in the middle of Europe in these days. We are doing things and we are not tweeting about it.
"I was on the phone for 48 hours to players and coaches to help them to leave Ukraine. We spoke 24 hours a day.
"I asked all the governments to help but no one could help because no one could guarantee the safety.
"Everyone said stay there because that is the safest place. We had to doit together with the Football Association of Ukraine and neighbouring countries’ associations.
"It is hard to explain how tough, hard and sad these conversations were.
"One of the players came to my home two days ago. One came yesterday."
