Former Chelsea striker, Andriy Shevchenko, has said the club’s history cannot be cancelled amid Roman Abramovich’s alleged link to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Recall that Abramovich had put Chelsea up for sale earlier this month amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Abramovich was sanctioned by the UK Government amid his alleged link to Putin, but the 55-year-old has always denied those assertions.
Most football fans had shown their support for Ukraine, while some of Chelsea’s, who used to cheer Shevchenko when he was their player between 2006 and 2009, have tainted tributes by singing Abramovich’s name instead.
But Shevchenko does not want to see Chelsea become another casualty of the war between Russia and Ukraine.
“The history which Chelsea built cannot be cancelled,” Shevchenko told Sportsmail’s Jamie Redknapp.
“The Chelsea fans will always stay behind the club because they love the club. I know it’s a difficult moment. But I am also in a position where, with what is happening to my country, I want to appeal to everyone to play your part.
“Remember what is most important. I want only one thing: to bring peace to my country, to stop the killing of innocent people, to stop the killing of kids. We all know war is cruel. But we cannot stand for that.”
He added, “I’m a father of four. You are a father of three, Jamie. We cannot stand for that. Innocent children are dying for no reason. This is what I work for – to stop this war. This war does not have a reason.”
