Anatoliy Trubin (foto: Posnetek zaslona)
Benfica’s Ukrainian goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin refused to shake hands with Monaco’s Russian midfielder Aleksandr Golovin, highlighting tensions between the two nations on the football pitch.
Anatoliy Trubin, Benfica’s Ukrainian goalkeeper, made headlines during the pre-match handshake ceremony in the clash between Monaco and Benfica by deliberately skipping over Monaco’s Aleksandr Golovin, a Russian midfielder.
The ongoing war in Ukraine continues to influence football, with Ukrainian teams unable to host matches at home and Russian clubs excluded from all competitions under UEFA and FIFA since the start of the invasion. However, individual confrontations between Russian and Ukrainian representatives remain unavoidable in international club football, as evidenced in last night’s game.
As the players lined up for the traditional handshake, Trubin visibly ignored Golovin, skipping over him without hesitation. Golovin’s surprise at the snub was evident, but the incident underscored the broader tensions between their respective nations.
The moment quickly drew attention on social media, with fans and analysts divided in their reactions. While some supported Trubin’s decision as a personal stance against Russia’s actions, others argued that sports should remain neutral territory.
This incident is yet another reminder of how geopolitical conflicts can spill over into the world of sports. Watch the moment in the attached video link.