Russian footballer Artem Dzyuba has launched a scathing attack on Premier League stars who “sit in mansions and say nasty things" on Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
The country's national football teams have been banned from competitions until further notice as a result of the attacks, while Russia's domestic clubs are also suspended from European competitions.
Several Premier League players, such as Ukrainian internationals Oleksandr Zinchenko and Vitaliy Mykolenko have spoken out about their anger of the invasion.
The Everton defender has been especially active on social media and hit out at Mr Dzyuba earlier this week, calling for him his Russian teammates to speak out on the matter.
But Mr Dzyuba has now broken his silence with a post on his Instagram saying: "I didn't want to comment about the events in Ukraine until the very last moment.
"I didn't want to, not because I am afraid, but because I am not an expert in the politics, I was never involved in it and I was never going to be.
Ukraine's Oleksandr Zinchenko and Vitaliy Mykolenko
JASON CAIRNDUFF
"But as any other person I have my own opinion. And I will voice it because I've been pushed to this topic from many sides.
"War is terrifying. I am shocked by human aggression and hate, which is moving to a larger scale every day.
"I am against discrimination based on your nationality. I am not ashamed to be Russian. I am proud to be Russian. I don't understand why athletes have to suffer now.
"I am against double standards. Why are some allowed everything, but we are blamed for everything? Why does everyone always say that sport is apolitical, but with the first opportunity, when it concerns Russia, this principle is absolutely forgotten?"
Replying directly to Mr Dzyuba’s post, Manchester City’s Mr Zinchenko said: "As for your main argument ‘sport is apolitical', indeed, sport shouldn't be a part of an election campaign, party races, slogan promotion and a PR platform.
"However, sport, as any other part of life, cannot stand by and watch the matters of war, aggression and death. Everyone should be fighting against evil, regardless of their occupation.
"Evil should be punished on all platforms that are available to society. We will be knocking on your door with the sanctions with even more aggression than you do when you cross our borders with ammunition. Stopping the occupation is the single main aim of all our actions."
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