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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Mark Walker

Ukraine and Scotland playoff in fresh doubt as Shakhtar boss reveals players could be called to fight Russia

Further doubt has been cast on Scotland 's play-off with Ukraine, as players could be called up to fight in the escalating response to Russia's invasion.

The Eastern European nation has been invaded by Vladimir Putin's troops, with UEFA taking the Champions League final away from St Petersburg as a result.

Shakhtar Donetsk have not played at home since 2014 after a previous conflict, where the Donbass region was declared a breakaway state.

And their manager has revealed that players could be called up to fight, with Ukraine seeking assistance from men aged 18-60.

With Scotland due to face Ukraine in a World Cup 2022 play-off next month that could have a major impact, with the game increasingly in doubt.

Protests have been held across the world, including outside Downing Street. (Getty)

And Shakhtar Donetsk's Italian boss Roberto De Zerbi admits he's fearing the worst.

He said: "There's no one left at the team hotel except me and our Brazilian players.

"I am extremely worried about the club's Ukrainian players. I've already been told they will be drafted into the army to fight Russia, even the internationals. There is nothing I can do.

"The whole world predicted an invasion except the Ukrainians. The club told me it was just media hype. Now I am stuck here."

Polish FA president Cesare Kulesha has revealed he's trying to help Ukraine to prepare for the match against the Scots.

He said: "I had a conversation with my friend Andriy Pavelko, President of the Ukrainian Football Association. I suggested that we, as a federation, helped organise and prepare all forthcoming Ukrainian matches in Poland. The Ukrainian FA accepted our offer."

Meanwhile, Dynamo Kiev boss Mircea Lucescu has fled the country - just a day after insisting he was going nowhere.

The veteran Romanian boss, whose club have nine players in the Ukraine squad, said on Thursday: "I am not a coward. I am staying here and going nowhere."

However, the 76-year-old reportedly travelled with his agent and two of his coaching team in a car to Moldova and then over the border to Romania.

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