A football club in southern Brazil adopted the name, emblem and jerseys of FC Mariupol, which ceased to exist in 2022 due to the occupation of the city in eastern Ukraine by Russia.
Associação Atlética Batel, which currently plays in Paraná’s third division, said on Monday it will try to protect the legacy of the Ukrainian team “until they can return home.”
The club explained on social media that this decision is a way to allow FC Mariupol to continue to exist. “Let’s save the team. Let’s make the colors even brighter,” he added.
Associação Atlética Batel is headquartered in Guarapuava, a city in the Prudentopolis region where about 75% of the 52,000 inhabitants are descendants of Ukrainian emigrants.
“This is the largest Ukrainian community in Latin America, and it is they who will host FC Mariupol until the team returns to play at home,” the club added.
FC Mariupol closed almost a year ago after facilities and stadium were damaged in a Russian bombardment of Mariupol, a city that was under siege by Russian troops.
On Saturday, the former vice-president of FC Mariupol said at a virtual press conference that the people associated with the club are “very emotional and grateful for the initiative.”
“Having a team in the land of football, on the other side of the world, fighting to keep our name alive during this dark period of our history leaves us speechless,” said Andrey Sanin.
At the same press conference, Batel President Alex López recalled that Ukraine has always opened its doors to Brazilian footballers and said that now Brazil must reciprocate.
During a visit to Beijing this month, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva criticized the US and EU’s stance on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Lula da Silva claimed that Washington and the 27 were fueling the conflict, and later refused to choose a side because he considered it part of a third path interested only in peace.