Andriy Pavelko, President of the Ukrainian Football Association and UEFA Executive Committee member, along with Oleksandr Kadchenko, President of the Professional Football League, attended the opening match of the First League in Chernihiv. At the "Youth" stadium, FC "Chernihiv" faced off against FC "Skoruk" from Dnipropetrovsk.

Photo by the press service of the UFA

Before the start of the game, Andriy Pavelko presented a special blue and yellow flag to the captains of both teams for raising above the stadium. This flag was first raised at the opening match of the Ukrainian Premier League on Ukraine's National Flag Day. On August 23, President Volodymyr Zelensky handed this flag over to the football community from Canadian-born Danylo Mikhaylyuk. It was with this very flag that Mikhaylyuk ran onto the field during the semifinal match of the Montreal Olympics in 1976, where teams from the USSR and GDR participated. By doing so, Danylo wanted to support Ukrainian football players who made up a majority of the Soviet team's lineup and demonstrate his faith that Ukraine would eventually gain independence.

Photo by the press service of the UFA

After President Zelensky handed this flag to the football community, the head of the UFA promised that the banner would travel through cities across our country where matches of the Ukrainian championship are held. In the future, after winning the war for independence, the flag will also be in Donetsk, Luhansk, Mariupol, Kherson, Simferopol, and Sevastopol.

The match itself began with a minute of silence in memory of those who died as a result of military actions. The first kick-off was made by a serviceman, which is a tradition for the start of each new season when teams take to the field wearing national flags.

Photo by the press service of the UFA

The match between FC "Chernihiv" and FC "Skruk" ended in a fierce draw — 1:1.

" Just five months ago, intense battles were taking place around Chernihiv, and the city itself was under constant shelling. It was hard to believe then that life could return to normal here, let alone football. But this became possible thanks to the bravery of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and all those who worked and continue to work on defending our country. And it is these armed forces who are already the champions of this championship today, as they will be remembered by the first kick-off made by a serviceman or veteran in every match. We are reviving football in Ukraine in support of our soldiers and in their honor!" — noted Andriy Pavelko after the end of the game.