JAKARTA – In the midst of a heated dispute between Russia and Ukraine, there is a story of the closeness between UFC star Khabib Nurmagomedov and Manchester City midfielder Oleksandr Zinchenko.
The two figures in fact represent two countries that are currently in conflict. Nurmagomedov is an icon from Russia, while Zinchenko is from Ukraine.
The closeness of the two sports stars was widely criticized by other athletes and netizens. The criticism was raised because it reflects the less harmonious relationship between the two countries.
Zinchenko received a negative response because he uploaded his photo with Nurmagomedov on Instagram. The photo was taken in October 2021 when Manchester City drew 2-2 with Liverpool at Anfield Stadium.
"It was a pleasure to watch the game and chat with you, Khabib Nurmagomedov," Zinchenko wrote on his personal Instagram.
At that time, Zinchenko did not play because of injury so he could only see his team-mates grazing from the stands. Interestingly, he sat next to Nurmagomedov who was also present to watch the crucial match before they took a photo together.
This view is in stark contrast to the political climate that was taking place there. Moreover, the UFC star also uploaded his photo with Zinchenko on his personal Instagram.
"I wish you success in everything, Zinchenko. Even if someone doesn't like it," wrote Khabib accompanying the photo.
The intimacy that was built by Nurmagomedov and Zinchenko was not shared by some other athletes. An example occurred in the 2020 Paralympics event in athletics.
At that time, Ukrainian athlete, Ihor Tsvietov, was reluctant to take a close photo with two Russian athletes, Dmitrii Safronov and Artem Kalashian on the podium.
Tsvietov did this awkward moment because he didn't want what happened to his compatriot at the 2020 Olympics to happen to him. Previously, Ukrainian athlete, Yaroslava Mahuchikh, was caught on camera crying happily while hugging Russian athlete, Maria Lasitskene.
What Mahuchikh made an uproar in Ukraine. He was even considered harassed and branded as a traitor and considered to have embarrassed the country.
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