Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Ricky Charlesworth

EFL boss announces Ukraine gesture ahead of Carabao Cup final between Chelsea and Liverpool

EFL chairman Rick Parry confirmed that there will be a pre-match gesture to show solidarity with the people of Ukraine at Wembley Stadium on Sunday.

Parry made the admission in the build-up to the Carabao Cup final at the national stadium, with Liverpool taking on Chelsea in the showpiece game.

The match is one of the highlights of the EFL's calendar and will see a full capacity crowd at Wembley for the first time in two years, when Manchester City beat Aston Villa in the 2020 finale.

With a global audience watching today's game on TV, Parry has confirmed that a gesture will be conducted by players before the game but has kept tight-lipped on the specifics.

When asked whether the match would witness a visual show of support for Ukraine, which was invaded by Russia earlier this week, Parry replied: "Yes, absolutely. Sport has a responsibility to do that.

"So we will be marking that and this is a game that is going to be beamed around the world so that signal will be seen.

"We're not going over-the-top. We're going to be doing it in a very simple and very dignified way but it's really important that we show that message, because it matters."

One potential idea that was mooted in the build-up to today's game was the famous Wembley arch being lit up in yellow and blue - the colours of the Ukraine flag.

Today's game comes on a weekend that has seen numerous grounds across the country show support for Ukraine.

Earlier on Sunday, West Ham United captain Declan Rice held up a Hammers shirt with Andriy Yarmolenko's name and number on the back prior to their Premier League meeting at home to Wolves at the London Stadium.

West Ham boss David Moyes, speaking before the match, says it is important football plays its part: "I think the message that football has given out, I saw the games yesterday, the message that the Premier League, the games in the Premier League and the players have given out is a great message.

"Football is so important throughout the world.

"The Premier League is screened to every country in the world so everything we can do to tell everybody this is wrong is really important so I’m pleased that the players are supporting Yarmolenko, as well all are, but more importantly that we’re all supporting Ukraine."

On Saturday there was an emotional exchange between Ukranian colleagues Vitaliy Mykolenko and Oleksandr Zinchenko prior to Everton's match with Manchester City.

The pair spoke briefly and hugged whilst Everton supporters held a banner with the words "We stand with Ukraine", while the club's players walked out with the Ukrainian flag draped over them.

The City players lined up wearing t-shirts displaying the blue and yellow flag of Ukraine and the message "No war".

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.