War-torn FC Mariupol reborn in Brazil: ‘The least we could do to help give hope’

A Ukrainian community in southern Brazil has decided to turn its local football team into FC Mariupol, a top-flight club disbanded after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, in a show of solidarity with the war-torn country.

AA Batel, a team from the Prudentópolis region in Paraná, said on Monday they will take on Mariupol’s kit, crest and logo a year after the Ukrainian club’s facilities and stadium were destroyed in the invasion which Moscow calls a special military operation.

“The club represents the identity of our community and our community is more than 70% Ukrainian and Ukrainian descendants,” said the AA Batel president, Alex Lopes. “Ukraine has always been incredibly supportive of great Brazilian football talent and became an important gateway for players to enter the European market. This is the least we could do to help keep their club alive and give hope to Ukrainians all across the world.”

Andriy Sanin, vice-president of the disbanded club, said: “We’re so grateful for this warm welcome by AA Batel. The war has been devastating to our city, but to have this football team from halfway around the world offer to keep our name alive during this dark time in our history – it’s impossible to express how much this means to us.”

Ukrainian Premier League club Mariupol have previously competed in the qualifying rounds for the Uefa Cup and the Europa League, most recently in the 2019-20 season.