Soccer Scandal: Ukrainian Football Player’s Alleged Border Jump to Belarus Under Scrutiny

Ukrainian soccer player Denis Shelіkhоv faces allegations of illegally crossing into the enemy country of Belarus.

According to the Russian news agency TASS, Shelіkhоv reportedly crossed the border illegally and recently signed a contract with the Belarusian soccer club Slavia Mozyr.

Ukrainian sports outlet Sport Express reported that Shelіkhоv purportedly trained for two months in swimming with fins to facilitate his river escape.

Shelіkhоv previously played as a goalkeeper for the Ukrainian U-21 national team. After stints with teams like Dnipro, Volyn, and Mykolaiv, he became a free agent this summer after signing with Victoria.

On Monday, FC Slavia Mozyr officially announced Shelіkhоv’s signing as a free agent. In a local media interview, he mentioned that his prior experience with a Belarusian team influenced the contract offer.

Belarus, a pro-Russian country, has closely allied with Russia and supported its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Given Shelіkhоv’s Ukrainian background and the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, his reported attempt to enter Belarus illegally and play for a Belarusian team has drawn significant local criticism.

When Sport Express questioned the accuracy of these reports, Shelіkhоv responded curtly, “Who are you, a prosecutor? Direct such questions to border control. You cannot ask me that.”