Ukrainian Premier League suspended; footballers appeal for help to leave

Russia's invasion of Ukraine that began Wednesday evening ET continues to impact the international sports world ahead of the weekend. 

As Jack Rosser noted for the Evening Standard, the Ukrainian Premier League has suspended play after Ukraine declared martial law following the Russian invasion. Ukraine's top-flight had been on winter break but was set to restart this weekend, but those plans understandably have been scrapped for the foreseeable future. 

Per Adriana Garcia of ESPN, a total of 35 Brazilian footballers compete professionally in Ukraine. Thirteen players from Shakhtar Donetsk and also Dynamo Kyiv striker Vitinho, along with family members, took refuge in a hotel in Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, and shared a video message earlier on Thursday. 

"Here we are all gathered, Dynamo and Shakhtar players, with our families, staying here at the hotel because of the situation," Shakhtar defender Marlon Santos explained in the Instagram video translated by Garcia. "We are here asking for your help, due to the lack of conditions in the city, closed borders, closed airspace. There's no way we can get out. We ask a lot of support from the government of Brazil, which can help us."

It was reported earlier in the week UEFA could move the Champions League final scheduled to occur in Saint Petersburg on May 28 due to what was, at the time, Russia's imminent invasion. UEFA will likely make that call official on Friday, but it appears London's Wembley Stadium won't be among potential alternative venues for the final for multiple reasons. 

Also on Thursday, the Football Associations of Poland, Sweden and Czech Republic released a joint statement saying they don't wish to partake in upcoming World Cup playoff matches in Russia. Per ESPN, Russia are set to host Poland on March 24, and the winner of that match will face the victors between Sweden and Czech Republic.