KYIV, June 10 – Ukraine’s football association said on Thursday it was in talks with UEFA to reverse a decision by the European football governing body to remove a slogan from Ukraine shirts after protests from Russia, AFP reported.

“Ukraine’s football association is in talks with UEFA to keep in place the slogan on its jerseys,” the association’s press service told AFP, after UEFA said the message “Glory to the heroes”, stitched on the inside of the shirt collar, was “clearly political in nature”.

The association said that “earlier UEFA had approved the new kit and every element of it, including the slogan”.

UEFA on Thursday demanded that Ukraine make changes to their jersey for Euro 2020 to remove a "political" slogan that sparked protests from Russia.

European football's governing body said the message "Glory to the Heroes” that is featured inside the shirt, was "clearly political in nature".

On Tuesday, Russia had sent a letter of complaint to UEFA over the yellow jersey which also features on the front the outline of Ukraine including Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014.

The jersey had been paraded by President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was quick to back the shirt after news of Russia's letter broke.

Zelensky posted pictures on two photographs on Instagram of himself holding a jersey and said it bore "many important symbols that unify the Ukrainian people".

The presidential press service then released a selfie Zelensky took of himself wearing the jersey.

Posting two photographs on Instagram of himself holding a jersey with the number 95, Zelensky said: "The Ukrainian national football team's new jersey is in fact not like the others."

But UEFA said the map would not need to be changed because a United Nations General Assembly Resolution "recognizes the territorial borders as broadly depicted by the design".

The slogan "Glory to Ukraine" was also approved by UEFA as "on its own (it) may be considered as a generic and non-political phrase of general national significance".

Since annexing Crimea, Russia has backed pro-Moscow separatists in eastern Ukraine. The ongoing conflict there has claimed the lives of more than 13,000 people.

Ukraine begin their campaign at the European Championship on Sunday against the Netherlands in Amsterdam. Drawn in Group C, they also face Austria and North Macedonia.

Russia have been drawn in Group B alongside Belgium, Denmark and Finland. Their first match is against the Belgians in Saint Petersburg on Saturday. (afp/ez)