Sports lawyer tells whether Usyk will play against Shakhtar

Oleksandr Usyk, the absolute world champion in the super-heavyweight division, dreams of playing in an official match as a member of Zhytomyr's Polissya. Sports lawyer Ilya Skoropashkin assessed forUVthe boxer's chances of resolving this issue in the Ukrainian championship of the 2023/2024 season.

- Oleksandr Usyk won his fight against Tyson Fury on the second attempt. His next goal was to play for Polissia in an official match. Will he be able to achieve it this season?

- According to clause 8 of Article 8 of the UPL Competition Regulations of the current season, players can apply to participate in official matches only during the established application periods. Since the last application period ended on 12 March, unfortunately, Oleksandr Usyk, not being on the official application of FC Polissya (Zhytomyr) for this season, will not be able to participate in the official matches of this club's team.

Although Usyk has previous experience of playing for this football club, the absence of his name in the official list of declared players in official competitions for the current season excludes the possibility of his participation in matches, according to the current UPL regulations.

- Will Usyk's potential free agent status not help him in this matter?

- This can be used depending on the validity of Oleksandr's existing (or past) contract with Zhytomyr. In this way, a free agent can be declared without an application, but depending on the term and conditions of his previous contract.

- So, is the issue finally closed or are there still some loopholes?

- Of course, given that Polissia has a place in the application, there is a theoretical possibility that the UPL may make an exception, given Oleksandr's enormous contribution to the popularisation of Ukrainian sport and his much-needed victory today as proof of the indomitable strength of the Ukrainian nation. Undoubtedly, this victory in the boxing ring raises the morale of our defenders on the battlefield and brings our main Victory closer!

Andriy Shevchenko