Restrictions on Russia and its citizens due to the war in Ukraine prevent Benfica from using its player Ivan Chishkala in the main round of the futsal Champions League, which starts next Wednesday in Romania and in which it will have to compete with the Hungarians from Haladás, the Ukrainians from Uragan and the Romanians from United Galati.
In a statement published on the official website, Benfica clarifies that Chishkala is “temporarily banned” from entry to Romania “due to problems related to his citizenship”.
“Despite the club’s best efforts, the player did not receive permission from the Romanian authorities to enter that country,” the Reds added, referring to the player “made the return journey to Portugal” this Tuesday due to the impediment of enter Romanian territory.
However, as this phase of the Champions League runs through Saturday, Benfica guarantees that it will “continue to make efforts so that the player can still travel” so that he can help the team in this competition.
Born in the Russian city of Norilsk, Ivan Chishkala, 27, is an international for his country and one of the key players in the Benfica squad, a club he has represented since 2020, after playing for Gazprom-Urga.
Source: DN
