August 17 – The political protests sweeping through Belarus have spilled over into football with CSKA Moscow’s Belarusian striker Ilya Shkurin (pictured) saying he won’t play for his country until President Alexander Lukashenko steps down.
The autocratic Lukashenko, who has been in power in Belarus for 26 years, has sparked week-long street protests over a disputed election result that protesters say was rigged in his favour.
He has also rejected calls for the election to be re-run, referencing official results that gave him around 80% of the vote.
Shkurin has been named in the Belarus squad for the team’s Nations League matches in September but has made a stand by saying he won’t play until and unless Lukashenko steps down or is replaced.
“I refuse to represent the interests of the selection as long as the Lukashenko regime is in power. Long live Belarus!” Shkurin wrote on Instagram.
Shkurin topped the Belarusian league’s scoring charts last year with 19 goals, then signed a four-and-a-half-year deal with CSKA in January.
Ironically the unrest has led to Belarusian league matches being postponed for an unspecified time, something that even Covid-19 failed to do with Belarus at one stage the only league in Europe playing domestically.
CSKA’s Belarusian coach Viktor Goncharenko has also put his job on the line by criticising the police violence used against peaceful protesters following the election.
“I think this is unacceptable,” said Goncharenko. “I strongly opposed the beating of our peaceful, wonderful Belarusian people. The police, riot police and the army should protect the people, not beat them.”
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