Ukrainian FA look to STRIP ex-captain Anatoliy Tymoshchuk of record 144 caps for refusing to quit Russian club Zenit
UKRAINE’S Football Association have confirmed they are looking to STRIP ex-captain Anatoliy Tymoshchuk of his record 144 international caps.
That’s after the three-time Ukrainian Football of the Year REFUSED to quit as assistant manager of Russian giants Zenit St Petersburg.
Tymoshchuk has been assistant boss at former side Zenit since 2017.
Fellow countrymen urged him to take a stand against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine by stepping down from his position.
But Tymoshchuk has instead remained quiet and continued to work there.
That has now led to the proposing several punishments for one of their top legends.
Read more on Ukraine
They want Tymoshchuk stripped of his 144 caps by excluding him from the official register of Ukraine’s national teams.
And he is to be ‘deprived’ of all silverware won while playing for Ukrainian clubs.
Furthermore, the UAF want Tymoshchuk to lose his Continental Pro level coaching licence.
And they have also called for all public authorities to strip him of state awards and honorary titles, including his 2006 Ukrainian Bravery Order III Degree.
Most read in Football
Tymoshchuk is one of the most decorated footballers in Ukrainian history, starring for several clubs including Shakhtar Donetsk and Bayern Munich.
The ex-midfielder won a total of seven league titles during his career, as well as nine domestic cups and three European trophies - including the 2013 Champions League.
Former Ukraine skipper Tymoshchuk also won a record 144 caps for his country, 33 more than Andriy Shevchenko.
But he is now set to be erased from the history books due to his damning silence over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Tymoshchuk was criticised last week by Atalanta midfielder and current Ukraine international Ruslan Malinovskyi over his lack of action.
The playmaker tweeted: “I don't know about Tymoshchuk, you need to ask him. Hard to comment but it’s weird (why he hasn’t) - I think it’s not right.
“It’s 100% the case that he’s no longer (or ever will be) a legend of Ukraine football.
“His previous achievements have been forgotten.”
Former footballer Yevgeny Levchenko added: “Tolya, how come? You're from Ukraine. How can you keep quiet and keep working there?
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Read More on The Sun
“We played together for the same team, wore this T-shirt with pride, sang the anthem, won and lost.
“Are you just silent now? Tolya, how will you live with this?”