'Breathtaking': Ukrainian star 'moved to tears' after crowd act
Ukrainian striker Roman Yaremchuk was brought to tears when Benfica teammates granted him the captain's armband and fans gave him a standing ovation in response to Russia's attack on his homeland.
The Benfica substitute was waiting on the sideline with Benfica 3-0 up against Vitoria Guimaraes when his number was called to enter the match.
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Captain Jan Vertonghen made his way over to Yaremchuk and surprised him with the captain's armband.
The crowd then rose to their feet and proceeded to applaud Yaremchuk for a long period of time.
Yaremchuk made his way to his position and was visibly moved by the reception as he was moved to tears during the beautiful moment.
Fans held up anti-war signs during the match and others waved Ukrainian flags in support.
The football world was quick to praise the emotional scenes that brought tears to so many watching.
This is breathtaking.
Ukranian Roman Yaremchuk takes field and has to hold back tears because of the reaction from Benfica crowd. https://t.co/OV7AYq3lEm— Maximiliano Bretos (@MaxBretosSports) February 27, 2022
What an incredibly moving moment just now at the Estádio da Luz, as the crowd gives Roman Yaremchuk 🇺🇦 a standing ovation.
Jan Vertonghen handed over the captain’s armband and the Ukrainian international was brought to tears. #WeStandWithUkraine #Benfica pic.twitter.com/pJ430M6JOY— Benfiquista Americano (@BenfiquistaUm) February 27, 2022
Ukrainian footballer Roman Yaremchuk comes on as a substitute for Benfica in Lisbon. Watch what happens. pic.twitter.com/H2HCZCq9Os
— Piotr Zalewski (@p_zalewski) February 27, 2022
Ukrainian Roman Yaremchuk in tears as he receives a standing ovation from everyone at Estádio da Luz (Benfica), Lisboa. What a moment.pic.twitter.com/bHSqH2Oexr
— Gaspar Ribeiro Lança (@gasparlanca) February 27, 2022
Touching moment in Portugal. 61st minute, Ukrainian player Roman Yaremchuk enters the pitch. He’s given the armband and comes on to a standing ovation by a crowd holding Ukrainian flags and signs protesting the war. Wonderful.
pic.twitter.com/2jBw04ZNJw— Italian Football News 🇮🇹 (@footitalia1) February 27, 2022
Really touching moment. Yaremchuk was given the captain's armband as he was subbed on for Benfica, & was greeted with a standing ovation from the stadium. He was visibly emotional as the supporters reiterated their support for his home country, Ukraine. 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/DxJFDC0nbd
— Alex Goncalves (@Aljeeves) February 27, 2022
The incredible reception that Yaremchuk received from Benfica supporters after coming on the pitch literally moved him to tears.💙 💛 pic.twitter.com/XnBvNxgbTD
— Adrian Sousa (Rabona TV) (@Rabona_TV) February 27, 2022
Quite a moment https://t.co/W7bdtldQAu
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) February 27, 2022
Football world unites in support of Ukraine
Similar scenes were witnessed in the Premier League over the weekend.
Many club made efforts to show their support for Ukraine and denounce the Russian invasion, but the toll of the crisis was no clearer than in a moment between two rivals.
Manchester City and Everton came together in a show of support for their respective Ukrainian stars - City's Oleksandr Zinchenko and Everton's Vitaliy Mykolenko.
The pair walked towards one another and embraced prior to the match, with Everton players behind them all draped in Ukrainian flags.
They made their way to the substitute bench, both in tears as the sounds of 'He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother' by The Hollies was played inside Goodison Park.
It was an emotional and at times uplifting day in the Premier League, marked by messages of solidarity across the country from players and fans toward those in — and from — Ukraine after Russia's invasion.
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