Zorya CEO Criticises Manchester in Homophobic Rant After Europa League Defeat

Zorya Luhansk chief executive Sergei Rafailov has branded Manchester as “dirty” and condemned homosexuality in the city in an extraordinary rant.

The Ukrainian club played Manchester United in the UEFA Europa League on September 29 at Old Trafford, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s goal separating the two teams.

Discussing the trip with the Ukrainian press, Rafailov outlined his issues with the city, via BBC North West Tonight:

Speaking to the club’s official website (h/t Stephen Crawford of Goal) the chief executive continued his tirade:

"

When we were in England we were only in Manchester and I did not like the city.

It was very dirty. Near the hotel, which was, incidentally, in the city centre, there were homeless people sleeping on the pavement at night. 

I went out for a walk in the evening and went a little further from the centre. It was even worse there. Masses of drunk people. It was bizarre for me to see men walking down the street and kissing. I did not like it. 

I would suggest we think about European integration 20 times [before we accept it]. I would not like my grandchildren to go outside and see men kissing and homeless people sleeping in the centre of the city.

"

Zorya are bottom of their Europa League group, which also contains Fenerbahce and Feyenoord as well as the Red Devils. They have one point so far, having drawn against Fenerbahce in their first match.

In Ukraine, gay rights have long been a complicated issue. As noted by a report from BBC’s Tom Burridge in June, gay activist Zoryan Kis feels as though the majority of people in the country see homosexuality as “something alien” and that gay couples are often asked to leave restaurants.

Far-right groups in Ukraine have previously warned against Gay Pride marches, too. Per Burridge, Artem Skoropadsky, press spokesman for the group known as the Right Sector, noted there would be a “bloodbath” if such demonstrations went ahead.