Milos Kerkez responds after Ukraine blacklist dispute involving father
Milos Kerkez was suspended for Hungary’s Nations League return match against Ukraine in Slovakia on Monday as the off-field dispute involving the Liverpool left-back and his father continued.
Kerkez has insisted he does not support aggression after being added, alongside his father Sebastijan, to Ukraine’s independent Myrotvorets database of people it considers hostile to the country. Hungarian MP Balazs Hidveghi was also listed.
How the row developed
- Hungary lost 1-0 at home to Ukraine in their opening Group B2 fixture.
- Ukraine midfielder Victor Tsygankov clashed with Hungary captain Dominik Szoboszlai during the game.
- Kerkez stepped in for his Liverpool team-mate, grabbing Tsygankov by the collar as he defended the Hungarian captain.
- Sebastijan Kerkez later shared an image of the incident on Instagram, using AK-47 track Russian Paradise, in a post viewed as a reference to Russia’s war against Ukraine.
- Myrotvorets subsequently added both Kerkez and his father to its registry. The database is not connected to the Ukrainian government.
Kerkez separates himself from father’s post
The 21-year-old said his intervention against Tsygankov was a footballing reaction, not a political act. He said he has never backed aggression and does not regard harm to others as acceptable.
Kerkez added that matches can become heated and said he would have protected Szoboszlai, whom he called his friend, regardless of Hungary’s opponent. The defender also stressed that he cannot answer for his father’s actions.
Hungarian officials intervene
Hungarian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Orban condemned what she called the stigmatisation, blacklisting and possible threats aimed at Kerkez and Hidveghi.
Orban said she had held discussions over the weekend with Ukrainian government representatives, the Hungarian Football Federation, the embassy and other officials in an effort to settle the matter. She said football should stand for performance, community and respect, and thanked both national associations for their cooperation.
What happens next
- Hungary are second in Group B2 on seven points, behind leaders Northern Ireland, who have not conceded in the campaign.
- Ukraine are third with four points and need a result away to Northern Ireland in Belfast to remain in contention.
- Hungary travel to Georgia on November 14 before hosting Northern Ireland at the Puskas Arena on November 17.
- Ukraine finish their group programme by hosting Georgia in Slovakia, with the war continuing to prevent them from staging home matches in Ukraine.
